Dear Glenda:
You will probably never read this blog but as a devoted reader of US Harper's Bazaar, I feel entitled to share with you my disappointment.
I've been reading Harper's Bazaar since the tender age of nine. I vividly remember the acute sense of anticipation with which I awaited new issues, how I devoured the content, tore out the best pages to file away for reference and generally reveled in the beauty of the images. It wasn't just the pictures of glamorous clothing and accessories that captivated me. It was an education in how to put looks together, how to interpret the trends, how to edit the offerings of design houses. In short, it was inspiration. I could lose myself for hours in the pages putting it down only to take it up again later and countless times thereafter until the next issue arrived. I would dive into the issue for hours, oblivious to anything and anyone until I felt satiated. I was hardcore!
Sadly, I no longer have these feelings when I read your magazine. I use the term "read" loosely as the amount of content that is actually "readable" in publications such as yours is now so sparse I hardly think anyone can claim to "read" fashion magazines anymore. But I loyally stuck with you when the advertising started blatantly seeping into the editorial pages (I know, it's always been this way but at least it used to be subtle.) I didn't flinch when you replaced real models by actresses with movies to promote for your covers. I stuck with you (although I held my nose) when you featured in your editorial pages celebrities with clothing lines and scents to promote. I even stuck with you when the tone of your features became excruciatingly patronizing.
But I can no longer stand by in silence anymore. Featuring Victoria Beckham (aka "Posh Spice") modeling the Fall 2007 haute couture collection was bad enough. Having her "style" Katie Holmes for the cover of the March 2007 Harper's Bazaar was too disgraceful for words. But then to follow up with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie on the August 2007 cover and give them a full ten page spread in your precious editorial pages was the tipping point. And just when I thought things could not get worst, I opened your September 2007 issue to find Courtney Love sprawled out naked on Coco Chanel's sofa (a hallowed ground if ever there was one) and blaming her personal assistant for the "faux Chanel" incident. Revolting.
You see Glenda, something inside me broke when you did that ... my faith in your style leadership. I've been unable to look at your magazine the same way since. But I could forgive you for all this if only you would go back to the formula perfected by Diana Vreeland during her tenure at Vogue and whose passage at both Harper's Bazaar and Vogue left an indelible imprint on the fashion industry: leave the magazine cover to the circulation department but guard the editorial pages with your life! So, by all means, give the silly celebrities the cover - just reserve your precious editorial pages for authentic fashion content. In short, I'm asking you to trust your readers. We're smarter than you think and can read between the lines. Perhaps if you trust us, we'll learn to trust your leadership again. Until then, we'll have the blogosphere.
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
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