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Original poster

Porter magazine

30 replies

Cheesyslice · 21/02/2014 20:47

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

OP posts:
WhereIsMyHat · 21/02/2014 21:18

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.

Original poster
Cheesyslice · 21/02/2014 21:20

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

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MrsCocoa · 21/02/2014 23:08

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 · 21/02/2014 23:10

It's a fiver - as if.

bunnymother · 21/02/2014 23:32

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 · 22/02/2014 00:25

I was about to buy till I saw the price!

herecomesthsun · 22/02/2014 02:49

the price also put me off

Chottie · 22/02/2014 02:52

Too expensive and full of glossy adverts.

Hopefully · 22/02/2014 07:39

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 · 22/02/2014 07:39

lust

AmberNectarine · 22/02/2014 07:41

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 · 22/02/2014 08:30

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 · 22/02/2014 09:33

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

MrsCocoa · 22/02/2014 09:36

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 · 22/02/2014 09:41

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 · 22/02/2014 10:14

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

WhereIsMyHat · 22/02/2014 10:14

Buy not but!

HyvaPaiva · 22/02/2014 10:19

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

hollyisalovelyname · 22/02/2014 10:23

I too baulked at the price. 7.50 euro.

bunnymother · 22/02/2014 10:33

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 · 22/02/2014 11:07

Is it produced by PRs rather than journalists?

Original poster
Cheesyslice · 22/02/2014 14:57

cocoa I am CRINGING at that description.

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

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squoosh · 22/02/2014 15:01

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

GoneGirlGone · 22/02/2014 15:58

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 · 22/02/2014 16:19

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