history
Vogue was founded in 1892 as a weekly high society journal published by Arthur Baldwin Turnure for New York City’s social elite. It covered news of local society, traditions of high society, and social etiquette. I also reviewed books, plays, and music. Condé Montrose Nast, founder of Condé Nast Publications, acquired Vogue in 1909 and turned it into a women’s fashion magazine focused on beauty, poise, and etiquette.
The magazine quickly became known for its unique photography and high editorial quality. Nast hired the best illustrators and photographers of the time to create consistently sophisticated and sometimes innovative magazine covers. For example, in 1932, Vogue became one of the first magazines to feature a color photo on its cover. In the 1960s, Diana Vreeland (editor-in-chief from 1963 to 1971) redefined the appearance of female models, eschewing toned bodies and emphasizing lean physiques regardless of gender. The August 1974 issue of Vogue featured the first African-American model (Beverly Johnson) on the cover.
When Anna Wintour became Vogue editor in 1988, she quickly transformed the magazine by emphasizing women’s bodies, not just their faces, and frequently featuring Hollywood actresses and other celebrities rather than traditional fashion models. The cover was completely redesigned, thereby sparking an international trend. Wintour also founded Teen Vogue (2003) and Men’s Vogue (2005-2008) in the United States. In 2003, she and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) jointly established the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to provide financial support and business guidance to the “next generation” of American fashion designers.
In 2009, the documentary film The September Issue, documenting the creation of the record-breaking 840-page September 2007 issue, was released to critical acclaim. Also in 2009, Vogue launched Fashion’s Night Out. This is a collaborative global effort to encourage people to patronize international designers and retailers during the global financial crisis. The event became the largest shopping event in history and was held annually until 2013.
International edition and contributors
Vogue has been an international success, with both standard and special editions published around the world. The British Vogue, launched in 1916, was the first international edition, followed by Vogue France (2021, Vogue Paris 1920-2021), Vogue Italia (1966, Novita ” (1962-65), “Vogue & Novita” (1965-66), “Vogue Mexico and Latin America” (1999), Vogue China (2005), and other global editions. Vogue has been a professional home for some of the world’s fashion giants, including photographers Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Hiro and Annie Leibovitz. Andre Leon Talley is the first black American Vogue to serve as its creative director. In 2009, he wrote Vogue’s first cover story, “Power of Change: Leading Lady,” about U.S. first lady Michelle Obama.
