Fashion magazines have evolved since the late 1600s when French women would share sketches of outfits to showcase styles. By the early 1900s, magazines featured photos instead of illustrations to better display clothing. Throughout the 20th century, major magazines like Vogue and GQ launched and color printing improved magazine quality and reach while competition from television and websites later emerged.

1. Evolution on Fashion
Magazines

2. Fashion magazines could’ve started as early as the late 1600’s, with French
women and dressmakers getting sketches of themselves in order for others
to see what the clothes looked like on other people.
By 1867, you had people in the US providing illustrations of European
designers such as Charles Frederick Worth. In 1892, Arthur Baldwin
Turnure founded Vogue in the US, a brand that is still large today.
By 1900, fashion magazines began to feature photos rather than illustrations.
In 1916, Vogue moved over the world, and started creating fashion
magazines both in the UK and Paris.

3. 1922, 30th anniversary of Vogue, French designer Paul Poiret writes that
Vogue ‘is today one of the best methods of communication with a
distinguished clientele.’
In the 1930’s, famous brands such as GQ and Esquire were founded,
companies who now produce lots of male and female fashion magazine
covers.
1960’s, enhancements in colour printing reduce cost and improve both
quantity and quality of magazines available.
1980’s, fashion media such as cable television begin to compete with
magazines.
And in 2000, Style.com and other fashion websites were introduced.

4. Obviously, the introduction of coloured photos made a big impact, as
you were able to completely understand what the clothes models were
wearing actually looked like.
Models became more sexualised in the hope that this would entice
more people into purchasing the magazine.
Celebrities started to be introduced into magazine covers and had
articles written about them as the times went on. This is because well
known celebrities bring consumers through value transference.