Mag-Hag

If you're as much of a magazine-head as I am, then you probably have piles and piles of fashion glossies littering your room. Coffee tables, bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchens are not exempt from the presence of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, Marie Claire, Nylon, InStyle, W and for those still young and kitchsy at heart, Cosmopolitan.

Each magazine brings to the table (no pun intended if they do cover your night tables) a different kind of voice with certain dialogue for a particular reader in a particular demographic.

So what's your magazine style? Let's break it down:

Vogue: This magazine is dubbed by the fashion community and its minions as "The Bible". Headed up by notoriously cold, but editorially brilliant Anna Wintour, Vogue has often been called elitist with it's articles on artists, authors and subjects most laymen have never heard of. Most of the masthead is comprised of socialites (Amanda Brooks, Meredith Melling-Burke, Lauren Davis, Sally Singer, the list goes on) with a high-end pedigree and old money last name. Case in point: the "Girl Of The Month" section, which usually covers someone eternally sophisticated like Tinsley Mortimer, Genevieve Jones, Natalie Portman or some fantastic supermodel like Natalia Vodianova (married to British royalty Justin Portman, of course). However, the editorial spreads are barnone fantastic and you can't lie that if one graces the cover or inside, you've "made it" in the world. In fashion, Vogue is god. And if you don't know who Voguers Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington, Hamish Bowles, Mario Testino are, then you can't claim to love fashion.

www.style.com/vogue


Harper's Bazaar: I, for one, love love love this magazine. It feels a little more accessible and the layout is easy on the eyes. Bazaar editrix Glenda Bailey is not necessarily the most glamourous-looking lady in the business, but she has a friendly smile and a good eye for fashion. Harper's Bazaar is magazine for all ages, witnessed through the regular feature "Fabulous At Every Age", where they examine new trends in relation to your 20s, 30s, 40s and up. The fonts and layout are catchy to the eye, and the articles are less Ivy League than Vogue. But rest assured, the editorial spreads are just as good as those in "The Bible".

www.harpersbazaar.com


Elle: My love for this magazine has a lot to do with my utmost respect for it's fashion photographer-turned-international creative director Gilles Bensimon, a well-respected and well-liked industry visionary. Elle's visual aesthetic is comparable to Harper's Bazaar: easy to navigate and eye-catching. The editorial spreads don't push the envelope as much as Vogue or W, but they're still a treat to see. And who can't love you some Elle fashion director-turned-Project Runway judge Nina Garcia?? 'Nuff said.

www.elle.com


Glamour: This glossy is as good as it is because of lovably petite Editor-In-Chief Cindy Leive. Glamour is for the everywoman who needs a shot of fashion in their lives. The magazine is definitely aware of the world, and often has interesting articles topics such as modern-day courtesans and the "Would You Dare?" section is a hoot -- volunteers run around NYC completing dares while Glamour photogs capture the reactions of citygoers. Glamour strives to make you not only more fashion-conscious, but better all-around.

www.glamour.com


Marie Claire: This magazine is The Economist-equivalent in the fashion world. It's fashion content equals that of Glamour, but it is so politically aware and it's articles prove just that. If you want to know about Balenciaga platforms or the Marie Antoinette revival or about the problems in Darfur or the sex-slave trade in Europe, then Marie Claire is the magazine to pick up.

www.marieclaire.com


Nylon: If magazines were social stereotypes, then this magazine is a hipster wearing Chuck Taylors, living in SoHo and counting down the hours till the next MisShapes party at his or her graphic design job. Accessories director girl-about-town Dani Stahl is practically the face of Nylon: do a WireImage search on her and she'll probably pop-up everywhere. The layout is interesting, comprised out hundreds of cut-out fonts and blended images. You can always guarantee an indie actress or musician will be on the cover -- I particularly liked the one with new Hollywood it-girl Camilla Bell, who wore the most awesome dress I've ever dreamed of owning.

www.nylonmag.com


InStyle: Celebrities rule the world and they certainly rule the world that is InStyle Magazine. This oft-thick publication has a lot on fashion and the A-Listers who wear it. The articles are unfortunately mediocre, but if you want celebs at the weddings or in their homes (showing off their interior-designed abodes) without having the peruse the latest US Weekly or People, then this will do.

www.instylemag.com


W: Avante-garde, sophisticated, intellectual and incredibly informative, W Magazine no doubt makes the top three of fashion glossies. The industry tidbits are the best and the writing is a slice of verbal heaven: descriptive, fun to read without being too kitchsy and interesting, beginning to end. There is a huge concentration on jewelry, accessories and art. Editorial spreads here are gorgeously incredible and art-minded, thanks for the most part to famed fashion photographer and regular W contributor Steven Klein, who is king of pushing the fashion photography envelope. Who could forget the sensual Brangelina spread or the equestrian Madonna spread?? However, the magazine's larger width and height is the only time in fashion that it'll be acceptable to bigger than sample size.

www.style.com/w


So what's your magazine personality? I sort of think I'm a bit of everything.

Having a fashion split personality isn't all that bad.

I'm Lovin' it: Pumpkin Pie shakes from Jack In The Box. It's an ice blended piece of pumpkin pie and absolutely fantastic on my tastebuds.

I'm Over it: See-through footless tights. If you're going to go the leggings/tights route, please make sure they're opaque because someone along the way is going to take a flash picture of you and the results will be horrific.

Track of the Day: "Fidelity" by Regina Spektor. This NYC singer/songwriter has the acoustic vocals down pat -- $20 tickets for her SoCal concert last week were on sale on Craigslist for $100 a pop. You won't get enough of this yodelling-inspired ditty and trust me, it's way better than Gwen Stefani's yodelling-sampled "Wind it Up". And that's saying a lot, seeing as how I've been girl-crushing on Gwen Stefani-Rossdale since the Tragic Kingdom album.

www.myspace.com/reginaspektor

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