By Megan
Courtesy of Fasshaddix.com
Dear Allure,
Have you lost your mind? Yes, I understand that you’ve told us time and again beauty magazines are aspirational and full of fantasy. So I assume that when I flip through the pages I will see super thin models in clothes I cannot afford…fair enough. HOWEVER, you have, time and again done this adorable little section called “Fashion Cravings” where you show us a fashion trend on the high end and, um, I am going to guess what you consider low end?
So this month you’ve shown us our fashion “Lust” item: a $2,996 Louis Vuitton top with a $1,000 shirt to match. Yes! I see! Fashion fantasy! Now, we see the “must” item. The “Must” item is an adorable little designer-inspired piece we can gleefully add to our sad, middle class wardrobe.
The antidote to the Louis Vuitton dress? Oh, a $530 dollar dress. More items for the “must” list include a $140 tank top, a $410 skirt, and the bargain $350 jacket.
Was there a rip in the time/space continuum and your office exists in the late 90’s? We are in the midst of the worst economic downturn in our lifetime and you tell your readers that they simply must own a skirt that costs $410 dollars. Yet, I am sure you are bemoaning your drop in readership and ad revenue. You will cast a glaring eye to the beauty and fashion bloggers who can tell you how to dress fashionably for little (http://www.fashionunder100.com/ is a great site for this). These keyboard commandos give the public what they want, when they want it, and don’t have to deal with fashion-world politics.
The democratization of information via the internet has made all of us more savvy . How about next issue you follow our lead and give us what we want? We have loved your magazine for years, and we want to love it again.
Amen sister! Thanks for the link for fashion under 100. That’s more like it!
I completely agree! It’s very frustrating when their “bargain” items are NOT bargains at all! What is wrong with Old Navy, Gap, Target even? Great clothes, at true bargain prices.
Allure isn’t much more realistic in their makeup coverage. Their editor’s picks for makeup are almost always from uber expensive brands. Their awards are a joke for the most part. They praise products that consistently get poor reviews on blogs and sites like Makeup Alley. I honestly think their product recommendations are based on who shells out the most money for ads. Maybelline typically places 3 or 4 full page ads per month, so I am not surprised that Allure is always touting Great Lash even though I have yet to meet a person who likes it. Don’t even get me started on their items about nail polish!
Megan, seriously, you have to send that to them. Don’t even edit it. They need to see it!
good job … i think you should send it too.
Consider it sent
Srsly. Sennnnnnnnd eeeeeeeet! This is true of fashion mags for any age group. Their bargains and must haves are absurdly out of reach for 99% of their readership. I get the fantasy and ‘aspire to the look’ bit – just like what goes on the rack is a scaled down version of what slunk down the catwalk. But give us just a little bit of real or most of that 99% is going to move on.
I completely agree with your letter to Allure and hope that you sent it. I no longer subscribe for this reason. I’m a career woman with the cost of a child to consider and I have learned to sacrifice and their magazine is a disappoint for my attempts at bargain finding…time and time again!