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Original poster

In Style magazine

22 replies

cerealqueen · 09/05/2015 15:04

I bought this today for the first time in years. I love style and clothes but I wish I hadn't wasted the £4. It was mainly adverts, celebrity interviews and the type of articles about eyeshadow I was reading in my 20s. Worst, was no what I would call 'streetstyle' eg real people wearing real clothes.

I didn't get any inspiration from it at all. There were four pages of outfits I quite liked and a column about Betty Draper's frocks but that was it for me. Nothing in there style wise advice couldn't get from you guys or a blog.

Are there any decent style mags out there not all slaves to celebrity or have they had their day? Im in my 40s by the way.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 09/05/2015 15:09

They are all rubbish. I only buy them if there is a freebie that I know I like/will use. I got Marie Claire for £2.50 in Tesco, with a free Neals Yard handcream. The magazine itself took about 3 minutes to 'read' but I knew that the NY stuff would be nice, and that it was worth £2.50.

ClaraDeLaNoche · 09/05/2015 15:11

Was that the one with the free serum? Agreed. It is shit! No can't think of any mags that are good on that respect. It's either too high end or these stupid flipping high street "drops" they rave about which you can't actually get. Usually.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/05/2015 15:29

I bought Elle last month (in Costco, so cost me 20% less) because it had an H&M discount card (IIRC it was a 20% discount, one off)

My DD was looking for a jacket, she saw one in H&M, so I saved £6 on that alone (and more on some other pieces)

The magazine itself? By the time I got through the first 20 mages of adverts, I'd lost the will Hmm

CardiffUniversityNetballTeam · 09/05/2015 15:32

I read fashion mags every six weeks or so. When I'm at the hairdressers and I don't have to pay for them!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/05/2015 15:33

Oh, and which mag to buy? No clue. I'm 49 next month and I feel too old for the glossies (Cosmo, Red, Company - if they even still exist ! )
Too untrendy for the Style mags
Too past it for Prima
Not quite ready for Good Housekeeping or Woman&Home (and don't have the budget for their fashion offerings anyway)

ZaraW · 09/05/2015 15:46

They are all a total waste of money every year the same thing rolled out get a beach body in 30 days, the must haves for summer etc.

I gave up on them years ago and occasionally buy Living etc and have a subscription to Wanderlust magazine as I love to travel.

RitaCrudgington · 09/05/2015 15:50

I like Stylist which has the major advantage of being free. It's not a useful source of real life style information though.

Stevie77 · 09/05/2015 16:19

They are indeed all rubbish, I never buy any anymore. The irony is that they are so expensive to print, they sell them at a loss because they (publishers) make their money from advertising. Hence lots of ads and not great content. If I get one nowadays it's only a 'used' one from my WI group which are sold for 30p and are no more than a month old.

Original poster
cerealqueen · 09/05/2015 18:14

Not just me then. I've now remembered why I stopped buying them.

If I tore all the Ads out the magazine would be 1/3 of the size. It had a free gift (a glossy eyeshadow) which I will use.
Where do you get Stylist Rita ?

I look at Bum 40 blog but she is a bit samey these days though I did like a recent one she did about denim skirts and flares. Any other blogs (Uk based preferably) ?

OP posts:
Greenstone · 09/05/2015 19:31

I read Elle today in the hair dresser and thought it was ok. A nice high fashion 70s spread but silly money of course. An interesting article on women and voting by Victoria Coren. A very interesting article on Rebel Wilson which I didn't get to finish. Nothing on the fashion front that I could afford.
I think Grazia probably does best on fashiony stuff but awful celeb stuff to wade through also.
Would never buy a mag though it must be said.

RitaCrudgington · 09/05/2015 19:36

Stylist is handed out at Tube stations on Wednesday mornings, but I dunno whether you can get it outside London.

daftbesom · 09/05/2015 20:03

I like "Look" - targeted at much younger women Blush but has lots of High St ideas every month and features clothes on women nearer my size (14/16) alongside the standard skinny models.

Lovewearingjeans · 09/05/2015 20:58

I got Cosmo recently, and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. They have a regular column by a (gorgeous) plus size woman. I would second Look for high St trends. Essentials magazine offers fashion at high street prices, though not high fashion at all. I am 39 and I do find some relevant stuff in Good Housekeeping, and their website is really good. Less adverts too. I have gone off Red recently, as I am finding it less targeted at 'ordinary' women compared to what It used to offer. Only ever read Elle at the hairdressers. Glamour can have good suggestions for high street looks and up to date make up, can feel a bit young though. Can you guess my secret vice Blush

Fluffycloudland77 · 10/05/2015 08:25

If you download the issu app you can read them for free. Usually a month behind but as its all the same old crap it doesn't matter.

WipsGlitter · 10/05/2015 08:46

I get Red which is just ok. I get it on subscription and can't be arsed cancelling it. But I've no idea who their demographic is, the clothes are ridiculously expensive. My mum gives me Essentials and it's good - all high street. If I'm going on a plane I'll get Grazia.

I used to look at loads of blogs but can't really be arsed anymore. I like Life at the Littke Wood though although it's a bit twee. I think the rest DMBL etc are in a bit of a style rut themselves. I follow a lot of them on Instagram though. There's one called catwalkschoolgates that's hilarious, she really fancies herself as a top model so lots of smouldering looks to camera.

WendyTorrance · 10/05/2015 09:12

I like Prima and Essentials for fashion. It is all mainly high street clothing on normal women, not models.
I subscribe to loads of magazines and find that too many feature ridiculously overpriced clothes. Good Housekeeping and Woman and Home, I'mlooking at you......

WipsGlitter · 10/05/2015 09:52

And too many personal stylist / cupcake / bunting tat makers who now run a successful business bankrolled by a rich husband.

Lovewearingjeans · 10/05/2015 10:23

I want a style blog that shows clothes on ordinary women, different sizes, heights, builds, shapes. I am a curvy size 12, and have no idea if clothes are going to look good on me if they are being modelled by willowy size 6 giants.

hollyisalovelyname · 10/05/2015 10:35

Wips a brilliant description of GH and W&H.
Far from empowering I often feel a failure after reading them Grin. I am so 'unsuccessful'
And I absolutely hate the celebrity feature where the said celebrity has been photoshopped/ botoxed/ face lifted etc and we read how it's all natural or down to some wonder cream they just so happen to sell/ endorse.
Just be flippin honest. Please.
End of rant.

susiederkins31 · 10/05/2015 10:39

It's worth checking your local library. I can download Elle, Marie Claire and Essentials for free, plus loads of others.

ememem84 · 10/05/2015 11:03

i only buy the magazines when there is a really good value free gift - e.g. £3.50 for a YSL mascara? yes please. (that was years ago...and it was a half size one...but still. Good value)

Chicinwellies · 10/05/2015 15:12

Agree OP, but I do like Red magazine, as a subscriber it was under £1 an issue, but InStyle for me, was completely Out.

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