Vogue Compared
Vogue has been in circulation since the initial magazine revolution at the end of the 19th century. During this time hundreds of magazines began printing, but after the TV boom many went out of business. Only five magazines remain from the initial magazine revolution: Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Ladies Home Journal, National Geographic and Good Housekeeping. Today Vogue is a well-known magazine for high-end fashion and living.
With the popularity to last over 100 years, Vogue has targeted the same audience through the years: women who are upper class, working-class and educated. The magazine appeals to this audience by covering the latest fashion trends, publishing in-depth articles on home decor and showcasing artful photography.
Vogue has a total paid circulation of 1,240,800 (including subscriptions and newsstands) and is published in 12 countries. A majority of the audience is female (88.0% female, 12.0% male), the median age of the Vogue reader is 34.5 and the median household income is $68,667.[1]
There are many changes between the October 1998 and 2010 issues. The layout of the two magazines is different. In 1998 the pictures were not in square shapes; instead the artist cut around the body, creating body shapes on a page. The overall look of the page seemed cluttered and messy. In the 2010 issue, only square or rectangle pictures are used, which is easier on the eye. The layout of advertisements is also different. In 1998 multiple advertisements appeared between pages of a story. In 2010 there is only one page of advertising separating pages of an article. The location of the table of contents is also different. In 1998 the Table of contents is found 10 pages into the magazine. In 2010 the table of contents is found on page 40.
The writing between the two issues has also changed. In 1998, articles were much longer, compared to 2010. The cover story 1998 had five pages of text, while 2010 only had three. Another example is the fitness article, which had multiple pages in 1998 and only a single page in 2010. While 1998 had longer articles, there are more articles total and more pages of writing overall in 2010. There are several more feature articles written for the 2010 issue; seven shorter feature stories are featured in the 2010 Vogue. These articles are small covering upcoming fashion designers, actors from theatre and upcoming artists. The article types have expanded from 1998 when there were only three longer feature articles.
When comparing the feature stories between the two issues, the reader also notices how many more pictures are included with the cover story in the October 2010 issue--11 full-page pictures to be exact. There are only five pages of pictures accompanying the feature story in the 1998 issue.
Fashion spreads are synonymous with Vogue. The 1998 issue featured four fashion spreads, all with pictures and no accompanying text. The October 2010 issue featured two, the other with accompanying text. With fall fashion being the topic during the month of October, it seems strange there are not more fashion spreads. Because only one month from 2010 was examined, there is no way to establish a trend.
Over time, Vogue has targeted the same audience, but in 2010 the magazine has expanded its scope from just fashion to upcoming theater and aspiring artists through the increased number of feature stories. It may seem Vogue is targeting fashion the most at first glance; every featured person in the magazine is dressed in high-end designer clothing. But the scope has expanded in content especially with the increase in feature stories.
[1] Vogue Circulation/ Demographics [online media kit](Conde Nast online, 2010, access November 2, 2010); available from http://www.condenastmediakit.com/vog/circulation.cfm.
With the popularity to last over 100 years, Vogue has targeted the same audience through the years: women who are upper class, working-class and educated. The magazine appeals to this audience by covering the latest fashion trends, publishing in-depth articles on home decor and showcasing artful photography.
Vogue has a total paid circulation of 1,240,800 (including subscriptions and newsstands) and is published in 12 countries. A majority of the audience is female (88.0% female, 12.0% male), the median age of the Vogue reader is 34.5 and the median household income is $68,667.[1]
There are many changes between the October 1998 and 2010 issues. The layout of the two magazines is different. In 1998 the pictures were not in square shapes; instead the artist cut around the body, creating body shapes on a page. The overall look of the page seemed cluttered and messy. In the 2010 issue, only square or rectangle pictures are used, which is easier on the eye. The layout of advertisements is also different. In 1998 multiple advertisements appeared between pages of a story. In 2010 there is only one page of advertising separating pages of an article. The location of the table of contents is also different. In 1998 the Table of contents is found 10 pages into the magazine. In 2010 the table of contents is found on page 40.
The writing between the two issues has also changed. In 1998, articles were much longer, compared to 2010. The cover story 1998 had five pages of text, while 2010 only had three. Another example is the fitness article, which had multiple pages in 1998 and only a single page in 2010. While 1998 had longer articles, there are more articles total and more pages of writing overall in 2010. There are several more feature articles written for the 2010 issue; seven shorter feature stories are featured in the 2010 Vogue. These articles are small covering upcoming fashion designers, actors from theatre and upcoming artists. The article types have expanded from 1998 when there were only three longer feature articles.
When comparing the feature stories between the two issues, the reader also notices how many more pictures are included with the cover story in the October 2010 issue--11 full-page pictures to be exact. There are only five pages of pictures accompanying the feature story in the 1998 issue.
Fashion spreads are synonymous with Vogue. The 1998 issue featured four fashion spreads, all with pictures and no accompanying text. The October 2010 issue featured two, the other with accompanying text. With fall fashion being the topic during the month of October, it seems strange there are not more fashion spreads. Because only one month from 2010 was examined, there is no way to establish a trend.
Over time, Vogue has targeted the same audience, but in 2010 the magazine has expanded its scope from just fashion to upcoming theater and aspiring artists through the increased number of feature stories. It may seem Vogue is targeting fashion the most at first glance; every featured person in the magazine is dressed in high-end designer clothing. But the scope has expanded in content especially with the increase in feature stories.
[1] Vogue Circulation/ Demographics [online media kit](Conde Nast online, 2010, access November 2, 2010); available from http://www.condenastmediakit.com/vog/circulation.cfm.
