Magazines they are a-changin'

This month's been a surprise seeing how almost every spanish fashion magazine has redesigned their layout. They've changed fonts, the proportion between images and text... I don't know if it's just that I care about that kind of things (good art direction is vital), but it's true that it makes you see the content differently. And if that layout change is accompanied by an improvement of the contents, well, then it's just awesome.

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Este mes ha sido toda una sorpresa ver que casi todas las revistas españolas habían rediseñado (aunque sea mínimamente) la maquetación. Cambios en tipografías, proporción de las fotografías y el texto... No sé si es porque yo me fijo mucho en esas cosas (una buena maquetación es vital), pero lo cierto es que te hace ver el contenido de otra manera. Y si ese cambio en la dirección de arte viene acompañado de un giro en los contenidos (mejorándolos), ya es genial.

Vogue Spain

Vogue Spain covers are usually very dull. Even though the september one with Miranda Kerr was really pretty, they stuck to their scheme (the same models, classic cropping, etc). Nevertheless, the october cover is a 180º turn. When I saw it, I thought: "This can't be Vogue Spain". But it was. An amazing cover, uncommon, strange frame and fantastic, two models... And in black & white!

If they keep making covers like this, it will be great.

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Normalmente las portadas de Vogue España no dicen nada, te dejan indiferente. Aunque la de septiembre con Miranda Kerr era muy bonita, continuaban en su línea (planos medios, clásicos, etc). Sin embargo, la portada de su número de Octubre es un giro de 180º. Cuando la vi, pensé "Esto no puede ser Vogue España". Pero sí, era Vogue España. Una portada increíble, fuera de lo común, con un encuadre extraño y fantástico, con dos modelos... ¡Y en blanco y negro!

Si siguen así, será todo un gusto.


Elle Spain

In Elle Spain they had good articles and good editorials from time to time, but they never took risks, and published content of very poor taste sometimes. It seems the change in the direction (the editor in chief resigned after quite difficult problems), is changing things radically. You just have to see their latest two covers (one below) and compare them with the ones they used to make (see them here) They are stunning. Now THAT is a fashion magazine! If they don't make the traditional special issue on december featuring a naked "celebrity" covered in Swarovsky crystals, it will be a good sign.

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En Elle España tenían algunos buenos artículos y de vez en cuando buenas editoriales, pero no arriesgaban nada, y en ocasiones, rayaban en el mal gusto. Parece ser que con el cambio en la dirección (la editora jefe dimitió tras duras polémicas), las cosas están cambiado radicalmente, y muy para bien. Sólo hay que ver las últimas dos portadas (abajo veréis la de octubre), y compararlas con las que solían hacer (ver aquí) Son realmente buenas ¡Esto sí es una revista de moda! Si en diciembre no sacan la tradicional portada con cristalitos Swarovsky sobre alguien desnudo, será buena señal, podemos respirar aliviados.

Marie Claire Spain
Changes in design. If I already liked it, now I like it even more! /// Cambios en la maquetación. Si ya de por sí me encantaba, ¡ahora todavía más!



Vanidad

Vanidad's case is different. They changed looks some months ago. The magazine used to have black edge (awesome!), and the pages had a very chic allure. They changed everything, and although I still like, I prefer the old version...

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El caso de Vanidad es diferente. Cambiaron de look hace ya meses. Antes el canto de las revistas era negro (absolutamente genial), y tenía un look muy chic. Lo cambiaron todo, y aunque me sigue gustando, "El formato antiguo de Vanidad molaba mucho más"... (como dice el grupo de Facebook)

all images scanned by me (except for the Vogue cover)

The work behind a fashion production

Elle UK is one of my favourite magazines. I read the issues several times every month, and I enjoy their good taste in fashion mixed with their classic english humour. They always do a feature in which they talk about the making of the issue, using numbers. It's both fun and surprising. You can't imagine all the work behind an editorial, how many people have worked together, the money needed...

They just launched their 25th Anniversary issue (October), with Kate Hudson on the cover (it seems like Kate is an Elle UK staple), and the usual "by the numbers" article is very interesting and fun. You can view the editorial here.

For the cover and main editorial...

• 17 pizzas were devoured by Team Elle
• 12 members of Elle crew making it happen
• 1015 frames shot by photographer, Ben Hasset
• 4 shades of Chanel eyeshadow used for Kate's cover look
• 100 minutes spent creating Kate's make-up
• 10 layers of extensions added to Kate's hair
• 35 pairs of crystal-encrusted party shoes in size 7
• 5 bottles of rosé wine drank by Team Elle and Kate
• 8 days spent creating ideas and moodboards
• 39 dresses hanging on Kate's Elle rail
• 12 minutes spent by Kate in the pool in a Cavalli dress

For the whole issue...

• 3 months from comission to printing
• 24 suitcases carried through airports
• 12 red pens used by Editor Lorraine Candy
• 416 cocktails consumed researching the bar guide
• 36 shades of red lipstick sampled
• 25 moodboards
• 119 editorial meetings
• 247 shows attended
• 653 cups of coffee
• 350 tonnes of paper
• 185 nails bitten
• 689 post-it notes
• 960 trips to the courier room
• 10000+ samples called in
• 34049 air miles
• 1 office mouse, Clarence, spotted

Everything has to look perfect, that's fashion. Any flaw is erased, edited, and photoshopped until it is how it should be. Fair play?

What we see...

What it was...

(click to view larger and read the notes)

Elle Spain (Suscribers) April 2010 Special Cover - Masha Novoselova

Thank you Elle! The cover is so beautiful. See how thousands of headtitles aren't necessary?

Masha Novoselova photographed by Mario Sierra.

Scanned by me.

Latest buys

Yes, I finally went shopping. I bought some shoes, two jackets and a t-shirt. Well, I bought all those things on the internet except for the shoes and one of the jackets. Oh, and there's also a very beautiful dress I'd like to show you. Let's begin:

Sí, por fin fui de compras. Me compré unos zapatos, dos chaquetas y una camiseta. Bueno, todas esas cosas las compré por internet, a excepción de los zapatos y una de las chaquetas. Ah, y también me han regalado un vestido precioso. Os cuento:

The jacket
I had been searching for a jacket like this since I saw Caroline B wearing it. Then Ariadna from Fashionisima posted where to get the look. I immediately visited the Forever 21 website and bought a very similar one. It was $34.80 (plus shipping costs). Now it is sold out. I must admit that when I bought it I kind of regretted it. I thought it had been a rash shopping. But then, some days later, the jacket arrived and I saw that it had been a good buy. It was even better than how it looked on the photo. It is extremely warm and the "fur" (cotton fur) is incredibly soft.

Había estado buscando esta chaqueta desde que vi a Caroline B llevándola. Entonces Ariadna de Fashionisima publicó un post donde explicaba dónde conseguirla. Enseguida me metí en la página de Forever 21 y compré una muy parecida. Me costó unos 25€, pero con los gastos de envío subió bastante. Ahora está agotada. Debo admitir que unos días después de haberla comprado me arrepentí un poco, me parecía que había sido un poco precipitado. Sin embargo, cuando llegó la cazadora unos días después, vi que había sido una buena compra. Era incluso más bonita que en la foto. Es súper abrigadita y el pelo de borreguito (de algodón) es increíblemente suave.


Caroline B.


Hanne Gaby-Odiele

The dress
I like lace but in little details. Like vests, little dresses, shirts... I was inspired by Abbey Lee and Iekeliene Stange. Alexia Admor sent me this beautiful dress that I can't wait to wear (it's so cold outside).

Me gusta el tejido de encaje y bordado en pequeños detalles. Chalecos, vestiditos, camisas... Me encanta cómo lo llevan Abbey Lee y Iekeliene Stange. Alexia Admor me envió este vestido. No puedo esperar a poneŕmelo (hace muchísimo frío).

(picture soon)

The fabric is so beautiful.

A t-shirt

The drawing is a Banksy graffiti. It's sort of cute, even if he usually draws rats and policemen /// El dibujo es de un graffiti de Banksy. Es muy mona, eso que él normalmente dibuja ratas y policías.

You can buy it here (there are not available at the moment, but maybe they'll put more in stock)

Another jacket

I bought it in H&M some weeks ago and it's a staple in my wardrobe. The fabric looks like neoprene (thanks Prada for re-introducing the surfer look) but it's cotton /// Me compré esta chaqueta en H&M hace unas semanas y la verdad es que me encanta. La tela parece neopreno (gracias Prada por re-introducir el look surfero) pero es de algodón.

Harper's Bazaar Spain, out in a few days! Yeah!

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The new "True Woman" tomorrow! :)
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Magazine cakes for the models

There is a tradition at model agencies like Models and Next that is quite curious and fun. When a models gets her first cover (the first Vogue, the first W...) they give her a cake with the cover printed on it.

Karlie Kloss for Vogue Italia


Anna Jagodzinska for Vogue USA


Emma Willis (Bruce Willis' wife)

credit: models and next

Blake Lively in Esquire February 2010: Amazing!

Esquire February 2010 with Blake Lively
thanks Ali :)

Except for Elle UK (that Helena Christensen sporty look was incredibly good), the stylings for magazine covers are usually dull and unoriginal. Vogue US doesn't take risks and uses gowns that have no personality. Well, Vogue Italia's choices are genius most of the time too.

Nevertheless, Blake Lively looks amazing here. The styling (and the pose) reminds me of John Travolta in "Grèase". The look (Blake's, not John's) is fresh, young, and new. Well done, Esquire!

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A excepción de Elle UK (quién puede olvidar aquel look deportivo tan genial y extraño que llevaba Helena Christensen), los estilismos para las portadas suelen ser aburridos y poco originales. Vogue US no se arriesga y escoge vestidos de gala sin personalidad y que dejan indiferentes. Bueno, Vogue Italia también hace portadas estupendas con looks muy buenos.

Sin embargo, Blake Lively está estupenda en esta portada. El conjunto (y la pose) me recuerda a John Travolta en "Grèase", que se estaba atusando todo el rato el tupé. El look (de Blake, no de John), es fresco, joven, y nuevo. Bien hecho, Esquire!

Covers in drawing by John Paul Thurlow + Birthday Boy (Calibre)

I found these amazing drawings by JP Thurlow today. I had already read about him in Susie Bubble's blog, as he made a drawing for her for a real cover.

I love the detail of the drawings.

The Birthday Boy

This is the S/S 09 campaign for Calibre. For their 20th anniversary the australian brand hired Magnus Unnar and model Garrett Neff and created a very nice campaign.





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Penélope Cruz in Interview Dec/Jan 2010 + Winter inspiration

One of Penélope's best covers ever. It's for Interview December 2009/January 2010.
And interviewed by Marion Cotillard!
I can't wait to see Nine, it looks promising, and the cast is amazing.

Winter inspiration

scanned by me from Elle Spain Dec. 2009

17 years later, good things don't change: Vogue Italia 1992 and Vogue Paris 2009

Vogue Italia 1992


Vogue Paris March 2009
Iris Strubegger by Mert & Marcus

credit



The styling is almost the same, the background is grey and they even hired a similar model...