ClandestineChic

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I heard the rumors about Michelle Obama appearing on the cover of Vogue magazine, but I didn’t pay much attention to them.   As stated in my previous post, I haven’t really read an entire issue of American Vogue magazine  in ages, and I’ve found other alternatives and I’ve gotten fashion fixes in places such as  Style.com, various forums and blogs.

However, I was pleasantly surprised at michelle Obama’s cover for this March.  I didn’t think Jennifer Hudson’s Vogue cover was done well at all, and she was the last woman of color to grace the cover of the magazine in March 2007.  The magenta Jason Wu (yes, the same designer of her Inagural gown) dress compliments her skin tone nicely and her expression is soft and she looks relaxed.

Needless to say, I will be picking up this issue as I’m excited to see what’s in store.   Not saying that I’m going back with Vogue all the way, but we might be able to take baby steps.  Small baby steps.

Oh yes, Ms. Hathaway. Hello, I don’t believe I’ve seen you on the cover of a US Vogue yet. However, I have seen 18 of your other acting counterparts for the better part of a decade now. Every now and then I may see a model, but I don’t count on it.

I’ve been reading Vogue magazine for over a decade now and much hasn’t changed between now and then. It’s mainly the reason why I haven’t clamored to buy it in recent years. I saw this article on Jezebel today on why they hoped the rumor that Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld would replace Anna Wintour was true. And I agreed with all of the points. Even if Roitfeld wasn’t the replacement, some new blood at American Vogue would be nice. However, I’m sure it won’t be happening anytime soon.

So I’ll continue looking at other fashion mags, including Elle, which has stepped it up in terms of content and editorials (they are still just as guilty of the celeb-driven covers) and Vogue Paris, when they won me over with the Sofia Coppola issue in 2004.

Perhaps one day, American Vogue will win me back and I’ll re-discover the eagerness from month to month.  Or maybe it was just a growing phase and I’ve moved on to better.

I remember waiting every month for the latest issue of Honey magazine to come out when I was a teen. Seventeen and YM were okay, but Honey was all the rage, as far as I was concerned. I’d pour over the magazine from the front cover to the very last page. For the most part, I always agreed with the women they put on the front cover and I loved the features. I couldn’t relate to everything, but they were able to provide examples how life would be for a confident, sexy, Black working woman in her 20’s and 30’s. When Honey folded, I was upset and I searched for an equivalent. When Suede came around, I gave them a try, but once I  warmed up to them, they went bust.  And once I finally got used to Vibe Vixen, they also folded.

Now, there are many publications online that you can look such as Clutch magazine and Honey will be coming back in an online capacity, but what about print? I know about Jewel, but if only my local bookstore (and yes, even the small ones) would stock it, then I’d be fine. I suppose you can argue that Essence has stepped up to appeal to women in my age range and even the younger woman in her mid to late teens, but the magazine can only be so edgy.  What I’d personally love to see is a high fashion and lifestyle magazine that ran the gamut with its features and editorials.

With the magazine industry in dire straits right now, what would be possible for a new publication aimed at young women of color.  And I know that some  say that there just isn’t a market for that specific group, but I’d be quick to call BS.  And why aren’t online publications good enough?  They are fine; but I love having something tangible.   Where I can tear out a page and add it to a mood board or journal.  My extreme love for print will never die, but that is another story.

Anyway, I’ll make due with the mainstream fashion and lifestyle magazines that are out now.   Plus, online magazines and blogs are good alternatives as well.  But I can still hope…