The Women Behind the Cover
When it comes to fashion magazines, a few illustrious publications come to mind. Magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar have defined the industry for decades. These publications may have shaped fashion, but more importantly, the women behind the scenes have played major roles in the progression of trends and styles. Editors of prominent fashion magazines have dazzled their issues with covers and looks that still influence today’s fashion.
Vogue’s and Harper's Bazaar’s Editors-in-Chief such as Diana Vreeland, Anna Wintour, and Liz Tilberis have shaped and continue to shape fashion, even after their tenures at their respective magazines came to an end. Looking at Diana Vreeland, Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief from 1963-1971, it is evident that she never shied away from a bold pattern or daring print. Her eccentric style perfectly aligned with the era and counterculture that dominated the 60’s (Collins, 2011). The love for the exotic and striking fashion— an ideal Vreeland highlighted during her time at Vogue — is making a return in fashion today, half a century after she cultivated it.
Anna Wintour, the current Editor-in-Chief of Vogue since 1988, is still making her impact on both fashion and the publication. Wintour has focused on power in fashion, highlighting the sleek silhouettes and bright colors that have created a flattering, fashion-forward, and professional style of dress in the workplace (Cartner-Morely, 2018). Her styles and use of bright colors are still relevant and influential today, especially as of late. This year’s fashion week has been saturated with bright colors that aim to please. Wintour is still defining fashion in her role at Vogue, and we are all eagerly anticipating her next move.
The women of Harper’s Bazaar have been just as influential on fashion. Liz Tilberis, Editor-in-Chief from 1992-1999, not only redefined fashion but reshaped the magazine as well. Her focus centered on elegance, aiming to enhance elements in the magazine that were already there. Tilberis also launched Kate Moss’ career into the spotlight when she dressed her in rock and roll-esque designs (Mooallen, 2017). This not only placed Moss in the spotlight, but it also cultivated the entire grunge movement of the 90’s.
These inspiring women are just a few of the many who have made their mark on today’s trends and approaches to fashion. Their introduction and cultivation of specific styles were revolutionary for the times, and are still recognized as fashionable styles (Bateman & Algoo, 2015). Diana Vreeland, Anna Wintour, and Liz Tilberis are editors that still fit into today’s trends because they helped establish them decades ago with their own visions and publications of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Sources:
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/g6480/editors-who-changed-fashion.
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1993/11/diana-vreeland-199311. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a12837800/liz-tilberis/
Graphics by: Lauren Skeen