Fashion magazines are called the Bible of the
fashion world for obvious reasons: they are an essential means of conveying and
promoting the concept of a beautiful design to the intended audience. They help
to capture cultural moments and the stylish pieces that define them. In recent
times, they have also served as a platform to speak and share ideas on matters
that affect different people.
Fashion magazines have grown from just a journal
of beautiful pictures, interesting articles, and loads of advertisements to
become an emblem for the fashion industry. They have evolved to become
accessible to celebrities and ordinary people alike and have broadened their
vision beyond the genre and ideas we have come to know them for.
For a country like Korea, with countless gifted
fashion designers, cultural styles, and statements, it is no surprise that
fashion magazines are at the center of their doings. These collections from top
fashion magazines can be used as references for fashionable styles and the best
sources for lifestyle updates and celebrity gist.
If you are a lover of good fashion and enjoy the
satisfaction of flipping through the fashion world via the soft pages of a
fashion magazine, then you are in the right place. Let’s add some spice to your
fashion game as we explore the top Korean fashion magazines.
1. Vogue Korea
Photo Credits: Coup De Main Magazine
Website for Vogue Korea: vogue.co.kr
Vogue magazine is one of the most popular and
highest-selling fashion publications worldwide, with a spotlight on women. It
began as a weekly newspaper in 1892 and has grown to become a much anticipated
monthly release in several countries like Britain, Paris, New Zealand, Italy,
and Brazil, amongst others. It covers topics from beauty to culture, living,
the runway, and haute couture fashion. Vogue Korea is the ninth international
edition, released in 1996.
Since its inception, Vogue Korea has become one
of the country's leading and most influential fashion magazines. They offer the
hottest trends ranging from beauty and lifestyle tips to fashion guides, top
designers, shopping, celebrities, and international trends. Vogue Korea stands
boldly as an inspiration for creativity and beauty trends and has established
its presence on relevant digital platforms.
With its monthly issue that is well respected in
the Korean fashion world, Vogue magazine has the highest standards regarding
its cover face. Hence, a chance to be on the cover of Vogue Korea means that
the model meets the strict standards and would gain the attention of commercial
brands, fashionistas, notable personalities, and the general public.
2. ELLE Korea
Photo credits: Drama
Milk
Website for ELLE Korea: elle.co.kr
ELLE is unarguably another very popular and
highly sold-out fashion magazine worldwide. As the name implies, ELLE is a
French magazine that means she or her, and the major focus is obviously on
women. From its first issue in 1945 to leading the campaign with the slogan
"if she reads, she reads ELLE," Elle magazine has expanded to over 40
countries and has grown to become a giant in the women’s fashion field. Apart
from being a master in the fashion industry, ELLE has become a source of
excitement and inspiration for women worldwide and in Korea.
When you mention the must-have magazines in
Korea, ELLE takes the top spot for its sophisticated, interesting, and unique
content. This amazing content includes special beauty tips and secrets,
essential beauty products, fashion trends, recommendations and interviews from
prestigious personalities in the fashion industry, lovely outfits, the latest
stylish trends, spices of celebrity fashion, and the latest collections.
ELLE Korea continues to cement its presence in
the hearts of many lovers of fashion, industry personnel, and the public at
large. With its monthly release, ELLE Korea gives its readers smooth access to
the top fashion styles, designers, collections, and models, exposing them to
their exclusive gists and top-notch fashion information.
3. Harper's Bazaar Korea
Website for Harper's Bazaar Korea: harpersbazaar.co.kr
Harper’s Bazaar began in 1862 and had its first
issue published in 1867. Since then, it has become one of the top fashion
magazines in the world, reaching more than one hundred countries and having
publications in several languages. From weekly publications, it has grown to a
monthly one with a presence on blogs and other relevant digital platforms.
Harper's Bazaar Korea boasts valuable content
that ranges from the latest trends to polished information on lifestyle
choices, runway show collections, and other exciting gists. This amazing
women’s fashion magazine has become a wonderful resource for women who love
fashionable styles, from casual to couture. Due to how prestigious Harper's
Bazaar has become in Korea, many domestic and international stars love to
feature in it. Fashion and cosmetics brands like ALLUR, Lagom, and Klairs,
amongst others, love to collaborate with them.
4. GQ Korea
Website for GQ Korea: gqkorea.co.kr
GQ is an abbreviation for the term
"Gentlemen’s Quarterly." The magazine was first released in 1931,
focusing on men, and covering topics defining a gentleman. As the name implies,
it is issued on a quarterly basis.
If there is one magazine that ticks all the right
boxes in Korea, it would be GQ Korea. Although it has been established that it
is a product with an emphasis on men who love to look sharp and meet the
demands of being a gentleman, GQ Korea also embodies exciting content that
makes it one of the top magazines in Korea. The topics covered include fashion
styles and trends to sports, cars, fitness, books, movies, travel, sex,
technology, and even music. Exclusive interviews allow fans of popular idols
and celebrities to get the gist of their idols' and celebrities' lives and feel
more connected to them.
With GQ Korea, men are the center, but it doesn’t
diminish the fact that every reader can get the latest on fashion, trends,
culture, and a lot more regardless. Talk about gentlemen, entertainment,
enlightenment, and pure fashion put together in one magazine.
5. High Cut Magazine
Website for High Cut Magazine: highcut.co.kr
High Cut magazine is one of Korea's most
well-known beauty and fashion content magazines. It has made a name for itself
for its highlights on men’s fashion and its valuable information on the latest
trends, style tips, juicy gists on music albums, ebooks, beauty and skincare
secrets, and celebrity news.
The exciting publication is also known for its
awesome editions that usually feature themed photos and interviews with Korean
stars like Kang Dong Won, So Ji Sub, SEVENTEEN, HyunA, Yoona, Kim Rae Won, Park
Seo Joon, etc. From album releases to comebacks, High-cut magazine knows how to
keep its readers entertained. It is definitely one of the top Korean magazines
to get your hands on and enjoy the beauty of the fashion and entertainment
worlds.
6. Cosmopolitan Korea
Website for Cosmopolitan Korea: cosmopolitan.co.kr
Formerly known as The Cosmopolitan, this magazine
began as a family publication in 1886 and then evolved into a literary piece
and later a women’s magazine by the 1960s. By 1965, after Helen Gurley took
over, it grew to become a fashion and entertainment magazine with exciting
content on fashion, relationships, sex, and feminism. The theme at that time
was fun, fearless feminism, which became the catalyst for the rapid spread of
the magazine’s popularity and prestige. Cosmopolitan has come to stay, with publications
in over 30 countries and in over a hundred languages.
Thankfully, Cosmopolitan Korea is living up to
the standard. Since its inception in 2000, it has become one of the
highest-selling magazines in Korea, with a solid presence on multiple digital
platforms. Topics covered range from top fashion trends to shopping advice,
spotlights on celebrity styles, spotlights on designers, and skincare tips.
Hair, health and fitness, makeup products, culture, technology, cars, travel,
exclusive celebrity interviews, and juicy gossip are part of the package. If
you thought that was all, you would be far from the truth because there is also
coverage on matters affecting society, valuable career tips, politics, top
events, and women's empowerment. Another feature that makes Cosmopolitan Korea
a remarkable publication is its campaign for young women to have a voice, pay
attention to their careers, and of course, their fashion style.