Teen Vogue edited by Amy Astley (magazine)


 (2014, August). Teen Vogue, 1-156.

Genre: Fashion

Reading level/ interest age: 15+

Plot summary:

The August issue of Teen Vogue details back-to-school styles, fashionable hairdos, an interview with Kesha, and much more. Readers can flip through the pages to find out what the hottest fall trends are and where to buy them. Ponytails have made a comeback and a photo spread depicts different, easy to do variations. Follow the story of Kesha’s cover shoot and get a look at her two cute pet cats! Martian Garrix dishes about what it is like to be a young DJ, Willow Smith poses for shots in her family home, and young models tell all about their rise to fame. This issue also covers the dangers of college campus life as a warning to girls to be aware of their surroundings. Find out why young girls are not coming forward about their attacks and what campuses should do to make their sidewalks safer. This issue is not one to miss!

Reader’s annotation:

The August issue of Teen Vogue details hundreds of back-to-school styles. Readers also cannot miss Kesha’s interview.

Information about the author:

“Amy Astley is the Editor in Chief of Teen Vogue. As the founding editor of the magazine, Astley has melded street style, high fashion and pop culture to create not only a successful magazine—but a dynamic teen lifestyle brand. 

"She began her career in 1989 at House and Garden, where she worked as an associate editor. Astley joined Vogue in 1993 as a beauty associate, and became the Beauty Director by the following year. 

"She worked at Vogue until she was chosen by Anna Wintour to launch Teen Vogue in 2003. 
Astley is a graduate of the Honors College at Michigan State University, class of 1989 with a degree in English. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters” (CondeNast.com, 2014). 

Curriculum ties: N/A

Booktalking ideas:

1.       Do teens at your high school wear the kinds of clothes depicted in Teen Vogue?
2.       Would you consider Kesha a good role model? Who else could the editors have picked to be on the cover of the August issue?

Critical evaluation:

Teen Vogue is first and foremost a fashion magazine. The majority of the pages are photo shoots capturing the latest trends and interviews with upcoming stars. Most back-to-school styles covered in the magazine are affordable with stores like Walmart and H&M cropping up in the spreads. However, sixty two pages, just under forty percent of the magazine, is all full-page advertisements dedicated to snagging the reader’s interest in beauty. Most of the ads are for nail polish, mascara, and hair products. Almost every other page contains an ad and some have small ads fitted into the sides of the page. Teen Vogue is therefore probably better for flipping through or cutting out pictures than it is for quality reading. Despite its drawbacks, Teen Vogue is still a good magazine because it targets teenagers. Not many magazines cater to teen’s interests and styles. This periodical may not contain the best role models for body image self-esteem but the models themselves are all young and age-appropriate for readers.

Challenge issues:

·         Promoting unhealthy body image

Defensive Maneuvers:

·         Have the library’s collection development policy memorized and on hand in case a situation arises.
·         Keep positive reviews on hand to refer to or hand out when needed.
·         If the book has won any awards, mention them to the patron and briefly explain the award.
·         Listen to the patron and practice good customer service skills when communicating. Let the customer know where or if he/she can escalate his/her complaint.
·         When necessary, cite sections of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights or refer to the ALA's Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials.

Why included:

Teen Vogue is a great magazine for teens who may have an interest in fashion. Any teen that may want to pursue work in the fashion industry would love to have this magazine on the shelf. Other young adults may like reading Teen Vogue to get a sense of the current trends in fashion for his or her age group.

Reference:

CondeNast.com. (2014). Amy Astley. Retrieved August 29, 2014 from
http://www.condenast.com/brands/teen-vogue/editor

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