11 Most Popular Fashion Magazines in the World

At first glance, the 11 most popular fashion magazines in the world may seem like a trivial topic, but let’s not forget the fashion industry dictates a large portion of the behavioral norms we abide by. Fashion magazines have a monumental influence on our daily lives, whether we like it or not, and even though it’s just easier to label fashion as “stupid” and move on to the next thing on the agenda, we need to gain awareness of the fact that it controls us.

Fashion is what Foucault would call an (outdated) disciplinary institution, as are school, prison, barracks, the hospital, and in some sad cases even marriage; it both disciplines and punishes. Every institution has a rulebook, and in this case it’s fashion magazines and a very large portion of the world follows those laws. Of course, this is true for all kinds of magazines, so take a look at our 11 Best Selling Magazines in the United States to get a broader view. Mags tell people how to act, what to wear, what their bodies should look like, how their relationships should be, what they should eat, how to raise their children, how much money they should make, and most of all: what they should buy with it. If these rules are not followed, social punishment will befall.

There is no denying that times are changing, and although the fashion industry is currently on its way to reaching a pivotal shift against patriarchal values, the road ahead is long. Still, not all fashion magazines are offensive to the reader’s intelligence, some actually provide really great material to reflect on, and I reckon that if women are someday to obtain the respect that they are fighting for, magazines will play a key role. It’s not only about male respect, but also about mutual respect between us girls, because, as Mean Girls’ Ms. Norbury explains in her “girl on girl crime” speech: “You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores! It just makes it ok for guys to call you sluts and whores.” I think that’s some of the best feminist advice I’ve ever gotten. Thank you, Tina Fey.

But WAIT! Enjoying fashion magazines does not make you an idiot at all. Having explained why fashion magazines are evil and such, I will now say that I LOVE flicking through them. I mean, I really enjoy gulping down the crap they are feeding me, even if I’m aware of what’s going on. I have accepted myself as a pseudo-intellectual with a weakness for ankle-straps, and that’s fine. You don’t need to be dumb to go doe-eyed while looking at an oh-so-gorgeous (and oh-so-unaffordable) pair of Yves Saint Laurent boots, or sob to a sad story in which someone sad had something very sad happen to them. It is fine to read one of the most popular fashion magazines in the world, as long as you can maintain a relatively critical point of view.

As far as popularity goes, out of all the variables considered, you just need to grasp these three concepts:

– Circulation: number of copies sold every month.

– Readership/Total Audience: total number of readers every month
– Readers per Copy (RpC): relationship between the former

Of course, since it is popularity that we are attempting to measure, items will be rated by readership. Not all three figures were included in the information I could compile on each of the publications featured on our list, but at least two of them were every time, so the few missing values were estimated by using basic elementary school math. For instance: If circulation = 1.000, and RpC=5, then readership=50.000, because 5*1.000=5.000. Just as well, 5.000/1.000=5, and 5.000/5= 1.000. See? Simple! But, first in order to know which are the fashion magazines we should be checking for these parameters, we took the most recommended ones from various sources like AllYouCanRead, Textile Merchandising to name a few, discussing the same topic, and then for each magazine we looked for these parameters separately. On some of the sites the info can be gathered only if you are registered user, so for those, I didn’t provide the links, but for all other that can be linked, sources are there.

That’s all you need to know, so if you’re interested in knowing by-the-numbers who’s dictating your life (which is NOT a minor issue) click “next” and find out the most popular fashion magazines in the world!

11. Marie Claire

Circulation: 1,012,048 – June 2015

Readers-per-Copy: 4

Readership: 4,048,192 (estimated)

Origin: France

Marie Claire ranks 11th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Hearst, the publisher, defines Marie Claire as “more than a pretty face. (…) Each issue is edited for a sexy, stylish, confident woman who is never afraid to make intelligence a part of her wardrobe.”

Ever since its first publication in 1937, Marie Claire has kept an eye on social issues and career advice (apart from fashion and style), and still does to this day. It began as a weekly edition, and although it took a break during the war, it was relaunched in 1954 as a monthly. It soon became an international hit and is now published in over 35 countries.

10. People’s StyleWatch

Circulation: 825,081 – June 30, 2016

Readers-per-Copy: 6.3 (estimated)

Readership: 5,198,000 – Spring 2016

Origin: USA

People’s StyleWatch ranks 10th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Born out of a column in People’s Magazine, this spinoff issue began in 2002. It focuses on celebs, beauty, and fashion. The fact that it has “watch” in its name lets you know its main interest is celebrity style. The publication quickly gained an audience and today it edits 10 issues a year.

9. Elle

Circulation: 1,103,163 – first half of 2016

Readers-per-Copy: 4.9

Readership: 5,405,500 (estimated)

Origin: France

Elle ranks 9th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Elle (meaning “she”, or “her”, in French) was founded in 1945 by journalistic power couple Pierre Lazareff and Hélène Gordon, and covered mostly fashion. It was a total success, and by the ’60s it was said to dictate fashion, rather than follow it. During the ’80s it hit some bumps on the road, but the solution came with international publications. It now has 43 issues and is sold in over 60 countries.

Here is an article on Elle’s origins.

8. Redbook

Circulation: 2,221,487 – June 30, 2016

Readers-per-Copy: 2.46 (estimated)

Readership: 5,465,000  – Spring 2016

Origin: USA

Redbook ranks 8th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. This publication goes way back, 1903 to be precise. It was originally called The Red Book Illustrated, which soon became The Red Book Magazine, only to be changed again to just Redbook in 1929, this time for good. Back then, it consisted mainly of fiction stories by famous authors, (some of them women) and pictures of famous girls, such as actresses and socialites.

Nowadays it’s like any other fashion magazine, except it’s more “down-to-earth” because it’s mostly oriented towards married, working women. Its usual topics are the same as always, but it’s not about living the crazy life of a single girl, it has a more realistic approach to adulthood.

Fun fact: In 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs had a series of Tarzan stories published by the magazine.

7. Allure

Circulation: 1,172,324

Readers-per-Copy: 4.83 (estimated)

Readership: 5,670,000 – August 2016

Origin: USA

Allure ranks 7th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. One of many French sounding magazines that are really from the US (Vogue is too, I was shocked), it was first issued in 1991. It is and has always been (as its name clearly states) a beauty magazine. It also covers fashion, and woman’s health, of course. Every year they hold the Best of Beauty awards, where the prizes are beauty products considered the best by their staff.

Interesting Fact: It was the first magazine to speak of the relation between breast implants and breast cancer, and the risks involved.

6. Vanity Fair

Circulation: 1,197,922

Readers-per-Copy: 5.78 (estimated)

Readership: 6,934,000 – December 2015

Origin: USA

Vanity Fair ranks 5th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Vanity Fair’s story actually began in 1913 and was edited by Condé Nast until 1936, when it was folded into Vogue, as a consequence of the Great Depression. It came back in 1983, becoming a monthly publication, and expanding overseas. It features articles on fashion, culture, and politics, but it is mostly known for its controversial photography, featuring artists such as Mario Testino, Herb Ritz, and Annie Leibovitz.

Fun fact: In 1991, Annie Leibovitz photographed a naked, pregnant Demi Moore. The picture was printed on the cover, creating an iconic moment in pop culture history.

5. Seventeen

Circulation: 1,938,312 (estimated)

Readers-per-Copy: 4,62 – 2016

Readership: 8,955,000 – 2016

Origin: USA

Seventeen ranks 5th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. It was founded in 1944 and intended to make good role models out of teenage girls for the future generations. Like in many other cases, you can see how the fact that the world was at war influenced the publication.

One could argue this is not a fashion magazine precisely, but that’d be dead wrong. As stated earlier, fashion doesn’t just involve clothes, it tells us how to look and what to like. The publication is aimed at girls ages 10 to 21 and includes all the typical elements of a women’s/fashion magazine, emphasizing young pop culture.

Fun fact: “Sylvia Plath submitted nearly fifty pieces to Seventeen before her first short story, “And Summer Will Not Come Again,” was accepted and published in the August 1950 issue.”

4. InStyle

Circulation: 1,741,043 – June 2015

Readers-per-Copy: 5,48 (estimated)

Readership: 9,542,000 – in 2015

Origin: USA

InStyle ranks 4th in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Founded in 1994, InStyle is very much your generic women’s/fashion magazine. It has a bit of everything: beauty, fashion, and of course, celebrity lifestyle. In just 22 years, InStyle has managed to expand its market to seventeen countries, with a monthly readership of 9,542,00.

Interesting fact: it was the first magazine of its kind to feature a musician or actor on the cover, everyone else had done models until then.

3. Glamour 

Circulation: 2,348,000

Readers-per-Copy: 4,64 (estimated)

Readership: 10,895,000 – November 2015

Origin: USA

Glamour ranks 3rd in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. First published in 1939, it was originally called “Glamour of Hollywood,” but in 1943 the name was changed to “Glamour” with the subtitle: “For the girl with the job!” Honestly, I think that’s a kickass tagline, perfect for its time – it was the middle of WWII, men were at war. Of course, it was celebrity-oriented, and it remains so, although now it contains mixed subjects (sex, fashion, lifestyle, etc.).

An interesting fact: Glamour was the first women’s magazine to feature an African-American cover girl.

2. Vogue

Circulation: 1,267,754

Readers-per-Copy: 9,4 (estimated)

Readership: 11,909,000 – March 2016

Origin: USA

Vogue ranks 2nd in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Created in 1892, it was originally a weekly publishing aimed at New York’s high society and usually featured socialite Gibson Girls on the cover. Even though it was mainly fashion-oriented, it was not its only subject, but by the beginning of the twentieth century, that would change.

In 1905 the publication was bought by Condé Nast and began to focus almost completely on women’s fashion. Even though WWI took a toll on the magazine’s sales, it soon became an international publication. Very well received in the UK and France, it switched to semi-monthly issues instead of weekly. Renowned authors were featured, and famous artists were hired to design the covers; however, by the ’30s color photography was introduced. The magazine became rapidly successful, and advertising came pouring in.

When the ’60s arrived, “the magazine began to appeal to the youth of the sexual revolution by focusing more on contemporary fashion and editorial features that openly discussed sexuality”. Although it was interesting to see a publication going in a different direction, this began to hyper-sexualize the idea of what a woman should look like. By the ’70s it became a monthly publication due to the changes in lifestyle and routine.

In 1988 Anna Wintour -or as Mugatu calls her in Zoolander 2, “The White Witch of Narnia”- took over, and remains head of the magazine to this day. Wintour took it upon herself to widen the audience by “making it younger and more approachable,” and turned an eye towards a more accessible aspect of fashion, while still maintaining its status elegance-wise. Anna’s approach had the desired effect, and Vogue’s popularity went through the roof. Who knows, maybe she IS a witch.

1. Cosmopolitan 

Circulation: 2,928,881 (estimated)

Readers-per-Copy: 5,81

Readership:  17,133.000 – in 2016

Origin: USA

You all know Cosmo, who tops our most popular fashion magazines in the world ranking with a baffling 17,133,000 readership, putting all the rest to shame, even Vogue.

Cosmopolitan Magazine, today known as “Cosmo” was founded in 1886, and was mostly centered around home, family, and cooking, but including some articles on art and science. Later on, it began including fictional literature- short stories, novelettes, and short novels. Oh, the times before technology!

Then along came television, and readers lost their interest in fiction, so Cosmo took a pivotal turn. The sexual revolution brought a change in editor, and covers began to feature pictures (until the mid-’60s they were all drawings) of girls in small clothes. Sales increased rapidly.

This effect continued to grow until the magazine became all about “good sex” (with stupid, naive, and sometimes even completely incorrect advice) and how to look good for men without coming across as a slut. Fortunately, in actuality paradigms are shifting, towards a less superficial appreciation of not only women but all humans.