US versus UK: Magazine Covers, June 2011

Eek! I haven't done a post in over a week! I deeply apologize. I hate it when bloggers don't post for long periods of time and come back apologizing saying how busy they are, but that's exactly what I'm doing right now. But this might be a good excuse: my sister got married on Saturday and I was the maid of honor-- so HECTIC! Then the next day I had to immediately leave for Columbia to start my internship- the next day! So I've been settling in now since I moved into my new rented place. And now I'm living on my own for the first time in my life! So many changes in my life right now, but I'm trying hard to be calm and grown-up. 

1. VOGUE

Vogue US: I think this is an incredibly flattering photo of Penelope Cruz. She looks naturally beautiful with her sun-kissed skin and dark eyebrows... I never really understood the fuss over Penelope, but she is gorgeous! The best part is that she doesn't look photoshopped. The lighting is natural-- it just feels very organic. Also, the text is balanced with the photo, freeing the area around her face without distracting, staggering text.

Vogue UK: I am a HUGE Alexa Chung fan, ever since she had her American MTV show It's On. However, I'm a little bored with this cover. It's Alexa freakin' Chung, so she has been and will continue to be on tons of magazine covers, so I think a little creativity is needed. This one is my favorite of her, so far. I mean, it's a beautiful photo, she is lovely, and the light blue background is very pretty. But, I wonder if their weren't more dynamic photos to choose from.

WINNER: Vogue US. Just a beautifully organic photo. Also, the text placement and sizing makes me happy. 

2. COSMOPOLITAN

Cosmopolitan US: Perfectly average Cosmopolitan cover, I think. That is the first thing I thought as I looked over this cover. First impressions are really important with magazines, especially when you're at a magazine stand and can't pick which one to get. Even worse if you're in a hurry. Then first impressions are mucho importante. Anyway, Cameron looks sexy with that strange cutout, flowing top and very visible side boob.... but just average cover. 

Cosmopolitan UK: How many times has Lea Michele been on a magazine cover now since I started this? A lot! I wonder how many times she is asked the same questions over and over again. But she looks so adorable here. I actually really love this cover! The photo is dynamic with different angles, her outfit has a 50s twist while still looking surprisingly classic. Everything about it is cute-sy, but that is simply the mood and style of the magazine. I need to accept that, I know. It's a great, solid cover with interesting bold fonts.

WINNER: Cosmopolitan UK. It's just more eye-catching and simply interesting. 

3. GQ

GQ US: Skarsgard! Skarsgard! That last name is just spectacular. This is an alright cover. It has the normal GQ text with a slick photo of Skarsgard looking manly and what not. I might think this is another average one... recently GQ won the SPD Best Magazine award, so I'm pretty much expecting amazing stuff from them from now on. (Planning on doing a special little post on GQ's win later...)

GQ UK: Another Penelope Cruz cover, but this one is very different from her Vogue shoot. Instead of a natural, sultry look we have a retro showgirl thing going on. Notice the white boa. This cover reminds me of something Vanity Fair would do, since it's pretty costume-y, themed and has this pristine photo quality. I don't know... doesn't it just remind you of something?

WINNER: GQ UK. It's just more striking and leaves a lasting impression. Also, I'm enjoying the very large "Cruz" with "Caribbean" placed on top. Though I probably would have sized "aribbean" a little bit smaller. 

4. GLAMOUR

Glamour US: Olivia Wilde is really beautiful in an unconventional way, I think. She has this amazing bone structure that really makes her stand out. Glamour decided to play on the nautical trend.. very summery with a loose, off-the-shoulder navy striped tee over a red one-piece I'm guessing? Then the braid- another huge trend. This is a nice cover, full of warm colors.

Glamour UK: I am pleasantly surprised with this cover! Glamour UK hasn't done too hot since the beginning, so this is good in comparison. I mean, there's too many competing large, bold texts and I can't get over the plug: "Nicole: Why her long distance love can be tough." I wonder why it's tough... I really just can't fathom any reason why... but the photo of Nicole is clear, crisp, and she looks very radiant. It's definitely a step in the right direction. 

WINNER: Glamour US. They are both good, acceptable covers, but the texts and fonts on UK brings in under. I think they should maybe stick in some serif fonts too... just too much sans serif.

5. INSTYLE

InStyle US: Taylor does not look very sexy. I only say that because the word "SEXY" is emblazoned over her body. I almost want to say the combination of the dress, earrings, her pose and angling of her neck kind of ages her in an unflattering kind of way. I love all the white space though-- on both covers. I'm beginning to really despise text flooding and overcrowding a cover (and I'm not just talking about Harper's Bazaar US's usual disaster, but the typical amount used on a cover. Unless you're Esquire and do it cleverly.)


InStyle UK: Amanda Seyfried wore that same dress on the Elle US cover in April. (Just pointing out I remember!) This is a really slick cover... The thin fonts and small texts are lovely, and I think the ponytail was a good choice. My only grievance is her collarbone and strained neck is weirdly highlighted and shiny. My eye just really caught onto that. 


WINNER: Kind of a hard one... but I'm going with InStyle UK. Both are bright, season-appropriate covers, but I think InStyle UK inched ahead on this one. 

6. ELLE

Elle US: You know how I just mentioned above how I was really starting to dislike covers with a LOT of unnecessary, crowding text? This is a perfect example of what I mean. Who is going to sit down and read that cover? Because someone who would read all of that would need to put in a lot of unnecessary effort. It's just TOO MUCH! I can't even read all of it because it's so crowded. (Rachel is adorable though.)


Elle UK: As a perfect contrast to Elle US's cover, this one is amazing. Natural, tousled hair is very trendy now, and the text just seems to lightly float around her. Cameron Diaz looks so radiant and classic here. It's just a beautiful, editorial-esque cover. Love. 


WINNER: Elle UK. I'm in love with it. It's really something when a magazine is able to make a cover star look that beautiful without obvious photoshopping. 

7. ESQUIRE

Esquire US: If you think this cover looks weird on your computer screen, it looks even worse on the magazine stand. The photo quality of Bradley Cooper alone is so bad and oddly illuminated. Plus, he's just standing there like a goober in an only OK suit with hands coming out to touch him inappropriately. When I was in Barnes & Noble and flipped through the mag, I looked through his feature. The photos there are much better, but to clarify, those arms belong to two elderly women... And I can't believe I'm saying this, but the text is too consistently narrow, and with the slant, it's giving me a headache. 


Esquire UK: Introducing Esquire UK's debut redesigned magazine. (Post coming soon about this too!) They are already fulfilling one of their promises with this cover (More Girls/Sex) with Kelly Brook posing as she is. I don't want to say too much about the cover because I'm planning on saying a lot about it in a later post. I'm going to miss their retro 60s-ish design, but a redesign was needed (after I actually physically flipped through it at B&N), so I hope it's going to be a good balance of retro and modern. 


WINNER: Esquire UK. They are already looking more clean and edgy. And... oh Bradley...

8. HARPER'S BAZAAR

Harper's Bazaar US: Anyone else think this looks like a holiday/Christmas cover? It could be. With the black, red and white colors and her long-sleeved dress? Penelope Cruz's GQ cover also used the same colors, but it had an apparent vintage theme. And you know the drill, I hate the gigantic text, etc, etc. 


Harper's Bazaar UK: They churn out another fantastic, artistic, high fashion, editorial-looking cover. I just can't understand how this magazine can produce such vastly different covers! I mean, I understand they have completely different staffs and editors, but still. The angles, photo quality, and styling here is so impressionable and original. 


WINNER: Harper's Bazaar UK. No contest. (And doesn't Eva's make-up look impeccable? Love that lipstick.)

9. MARIE CLAIRE

Marie Claire US: They did ANOTHER cover with two people on it. (April= 2 people, May=3 people, June=2 people.) I don't know why it bugs me so much, it just gets under my skin. I can't get out of my head how I heard when two people are on a cover it does worse in sales. Then I think, what if I love Kate Hudson but despise Ginnifer Goodwin? Would I still pick up the magazine? What if I never wanted to see or hated the movie they were in? Since they are together on the cover there will definitely be a lot of talk about the movie and working together. What if there isn't much of anything else? Do you see what two people on a cover does to me??

Marie Claire UK: I. Don't. Like. Olivia. Palermo. I'm sorry, but I did watch "the City" religiously when it was on, (because it showed the inner workings of Elle magazine, and I also love Whitney Port) and excuse the language, but Olivia was a bitch. She was so stuck up and rude to all of her coworkers, and she deliberately wanted, and tried, to make Whitney's fashion line fail. And now Europe loves her because she has style. If only they knew. ANYWAY, the cover: firstly, the top of her head is chopped off uncomfortably. I mean, if you look at the other covers above, only the very top of the head is cut-off slightly. Secondly, I am not a fan of the murky, grey background. It dulls down the whole cover. 

WINNER: Marie Claire US. I know I just complained about the two cover stars, but design-wise it's better than the other. Its bright, has a good color palette, and different, lovely fonts. (I also noticed both Marie Claire's used downward lighting to create deep shadows, making it look a little 3D. I think I like.

Final score...

US: 3

UK: 6

WOAH, UK did an ace job this month. I think the US has won every other one since I started, so this is a big moment for you Brits! 

Here is my (maybe obvious) favorite for the month:

Something I've also decided to do is include the full feature/photographs of my favorite of the month-- that way we can also peak into the magazine that made a great cover! Hope you enjoy:

What's your favorite for this month?