The September Issue

This is a great documentary. Anyone who thinks that magazines are in business to encrich culture and not make money are ignorant. Advertising and sales are what push the industry, and also, give milli... ons of people a way to earn a living. Anna is no different than any other executive who not only provides a service, employs people, and create a global economy. Women in the US are more influenced by TV and Music than Vogue, which is targeted to a more mature demographic than young teens. Bravo to Wintour for showing us the talent and energy it takes to put this, or any magazine together. Full Review

NYSawlt: Wow - angry much? I would like to begin by stating that if you suggest that all US schools for girls require viewing of this film, the girls will only become more self conscious and aware of... their bodies and will only feel enticed to conform to the female attraction to the world of fashion. Fashion is nothing new; it has always been with us and will remain with us until the end of human existance. The making of the movie is geared toward the fashion-minded viewer, not the average, generic American. Vogue and the products marketed and sold through the support of its publication are not created with the everyday woman in mind. The magazine is published with a life style in mind. The tartgeted Vogue reader leads a life of luxury, one in which wardrobe plays a vital role. Luxury brands do not target the common shopper, but the customer who has the money to spend in their (our) boutiques. The same person who is going to pay for a luxury brand also owns luxury real estate, luxury vehicle, luxury jewelry etc. And while Grace Coddington is obviously a respectable and admirable individual within this industry, she is no different - just because you respect her having her own opinions does not mean that she is not in this business for any reasoning different than that of Anna Wintour. The purpose of her position is to make all merchandise as appealing to the Vogue reader as possible. And why would any sensible, logical editor whom focuses on fashion ever leave the biggest book in fashion publications?! I'd rather make $70k a year working for a luxury brand than $150k a year working for a common retailer - there is pride in being an ambassador for an accredited label, whether it be a luxury label or a luxury magazine label. Fashion is a global industry that draws in multi-billion dollars in revenues yearly. There are very intelligent, business minded individuals at the fore-front of this business. We are not stupid people by any means. The revenue drawn into the industry just goes to support the fact that there is a targeted customer responding to our hard work. We sell our product for the aesthetic appeal, and the merchandise selected for any of Conde Nast's publications are selected for the person who has body shape in mind. For those who DO purchase at KMart, their sizing and price ranges can all be found in the KMart circulars. :-) And to say most of the pieces in Vogue are awful - you probably wouldn't know a good garment if it slapped you in the face. Paying a higher ticket price doesn't carry just a label - it offers exclusivity and quality. Full Review

Highly recommended to everyone, but especially to women of all ages. Wow, saw this documentary tonight in New York. Glad I did, because it woke me up to the travesty of relying on anyone's opinion abo... ut what to wear or buy but my own. First I am cancelling my subscription to Vogue. What a sham. The documentary is well shot and edited, congrats to the filmmakers, but what it captures is that this magazine is all about selling things - not beautiful things, but things that advertisers and store owners want us to buy. That's the message, and its a really ugly one. There is too much here of shallow, sad, insecure people waiting to see who has the nerve to stand up to Anna Wintour, who has no place dictating to anyone how to dress or live. Anna, you should be ashamed of putting down clothes bought at KMart, so many people can't afford even ********** really clear that what you care about is not true style whatever the source but selling stuff for your advertisers, and 99% of it is plain awful. What I learned is NOT to care what you and your editors think, as you pound their opinions into the ground and make truly creative people question themselves so you can do more product placement. And shame on you for telling other people to lose weight - including the film's cameraman! Thank God I was raised well, and I know not to criticise other's appearances unasked, how about buying yourself some manners! The only hero here is the wonderful Grace Coddington, who has the guts and the style to stand up for real people with normal bodies AND to find stuff that we actually want to wear AND to shoot it in a pleasing way. The fight she has to show anything lovely in this travesty of a "fashion" magazine is amazing. Thank you Grace for your true style sense, and whatever magazine or website you go to next (cause clearly you deserve more control and power, you go, girl) I will subscribe to it that very second. I believe in you. But US Vogue - the distant, ugly place that thinks women should look like flat chested, hipless, cold, starving children and calls it "fashion," is a cheap joke. Anna, you say that a dress makes a model "look like she's pregnant" - guess what - if the clothes you push were even a tiny bit sexy instead of boyish, she could be! Glad I saw this film to finally learn the truth, my eyes have been permanently opened. Thank you filmmakers for ending my even slightest wish to care what appears or is advertised in this perverse magazine, or others like it. This film should be required viewing in all US schools for girls so they learn early to develop their own opinions about clothes, comfort and style. As for me, I'll spend the 20 minutes a month that it used to take me to flip through Vogue on more worthwhile material - that is, anything else. Full Review