Porter magazine

[Cheesyslice]

Anyone read it?

Thinking of grabbing a copy for sofa reading material tomorrow night when DH is away, but I haven't even had a chance to flick through one in WHSmiths yet. I imagine it's a bit of a Marmite read. Thought I'd see if anyone here loved / loathed it and more importantly if it's worth a fiver

[WhereIsMyHat]

I was going to but the price put me off give that I'd probably manage three pages before one of my older two boys calls me because their baby brother is scaling the curtain rail or something equally as dangerous/ annoying.

Depending on the reviews here it might save it for a child free trip.

[Cheesyslice]

Ooooh good idea - I'm away with work for three days later this week so might indulge then.

[MrsCocoa]

Picked one up out of curiosity. And because I am fed up accidentally buying the same copy of Grazia twice, because they all now look the same, rotating the same trash celeb coverage, of the same five people.

I only skimmed Mrs Porter but I didn't warm to it. Didn't spot an USP. Felt like an editorially under-powered Tatler/Harpers-type monthly (eg. rather too self-consciously 'exclusive'). But maybe I missed the good stuff?

Feels like there is a gap in the market but this doesn't fill it?

[Corygal]

It's a fiver - as if.

[bunnymother]

Psst, anyone laugh at Grazia this week : "Liz Hurley furious at Bill Clinton affair claims" or something like that. Oh yes, she would be enraged to be in the news.

[squoosh]

I was about to buy till I saw the price!

[herecomesthsun]

the price also put me off

[Chottie]

Too expensive and full of glossy adverts.

[Hopefully]

It looked quite voguey when I had a flick through - v v aspirational and fashiony. I elected not to buy it on the basis it would make me list after zillion pound items of clothing.

[Hopefully]

lust

[AmberNectarine]

I rather oddly got sent a subscribers copy! I am only half way through but so far I've quite enjoyed it - decent editorial content and lovely clothes porn.

It also features no reference to Jennifer Aniston's relationship status, which gives it an edge on Grazia, IMO.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I really enjoyed it - better than current vogue.

And bunny - I did laugh at that re. liz hurley. I also liked how she said she hadn't slept with 'that' president.

[bunnymother]

You have to admire Elizabeth Hurley, making a nice chunk of money from, umm (mentally runs through her work), being famous.

[MrsCocoa]

I went back to it last night following this thread. The first thing that struck me is that it is poorly sub-edited, which makes it hard to get into the content.

And try this, to get sense of where they're going with brand positioning:

Porter There is a woman. To the outside world, she seems to be the one who has it all. And in a sense, she does: strong, seductive and real, she makes her own way in life and is not afraid to be all she wants to be. She is tough, soft, dynamic, intuitive and always feminine. She feels like she can rule the world - and sometimes she does. She is an incredible woman. She is PORTER.

So whilst she may be. I don't think I am. I react badly to this formula (you can't use the word strong about a woman without immediately needing to add soft and feminine?). And there is not even a hint of irony to leaven all the self-important aspirational stuff.

Makes me feel a bit less harsh about Grazia too. For all its massive contradictions, and increasingly trashy content, it is not (yet) devoid of political awareness/content.

[MorrisZapp]

Wtf? That description would be embarrassing if used to describe a perfume in 1985, never mind a magazine in 2014.

Strong yet feminine, blimey, top marks for originality there. What an utter cringe.

[WhereIsMyHat]

That description means I will never, ever but it. Where's my sick bucket...

[WhereIsMyHat]

Buy not but!

[HyvaPaiva]

Thanks for providing that excerpt, MrsCocoa. I was thinking of picking up a copy. I'll definitely avoid it now!

[hollyisalovelyname]

I too baulked at the price. 7.50 euro.

[bunnymother]

I wonder how much involvement Natalie Massenet had in it? She strikes me as a sensible soul, which is a compliment. There's a lot of fluff and puff in fashion, although I love fashion, that I like her plain speaking. Ditto Alexandra Schulman (her views on mid heels are quite compelling)

[MrsCocoa]

Is it produced by PRs rather than journalists?

[Cheesyslice]

cocoa I am CRINGING at that description.

I think I'm just going to have to buy it and scratch the itch.

[squoosh]

That Porter woman description is beyond parody. What a load of old wank.

[GoneGirlGone]

The Porter woman description sounds like Tamara Mellon.

Was sent a copy too but yet to even flick through. And I am not 'anybody' or even someone who spends much with NAP. God knows why!

Off to have a browse.

[SoldeInvierno]

I bought a copy. Flicked through the first 40 pages and got bored. I normally buy Elle or M Claire, so I was expecting an improved version of those. Very disappointing