Now don't mix up Bazaar and Bizarre, that's quite a different magazine... (Harper's Bazaar)

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Harper's Bazaar
Date:	28/07/09 (23 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Glossy guilty pleasure

Disadvantages: Does anyone go there/wear that/spend that?

I'm a sucker for glossy magazines, it's a treat to sit down and peruse one but I have to say that it's a real treat to sit down and find something interesting to read in one rather than just scanning the endless unattainable items they want us to buy.

So of late I've been reading a few different magazines to see if I can find one that is appealing. I love photography and the photos by the big fashion photographers appeal to me hugely as do their ad campaigns for the big fashion houses. As such, Harpers Bazaar is a monthly home to both of the above. But is there any substance amid all the visuals?

Costing £3.80, Harpers is a typical grand monthly production and that's not a bad price for this amount of gloss. Yes it promises more than it delivers, but don't all magazines? Take away the ads and you're left with a pamphlet!

Virtually indistinguishable from Vogue, right down to the layouts, graphics and fonts. If the covers were removed from both, you'd be hard pressed to see how they are different at all. Is that a criticism or a compliment? A compliment as in, if you like this kind of high end gloss, if Vogue wasn't available then you've the next best thing. A criticism as in, a magazine should have a definate identity and some sort of consistent appeal for a loyal reader.

Everything is extremely high end and as such, we're looking at inspiration here rather than a shopping catalogue. Holidays costing £24 000 a week? Dresses at £4 500? It does make you wonder if these people live on planet earth but then they're selling a dream.

Great photography in the editorials. The usual make up, scent, skincare advice. Small but interesting sections on music, books and art. One or two serious articles that span a few pages and go in depth. The society pages make me laugh, featuring the same stars each month and various braying hoorays no one's ever heard of.

Varies through the year, the one I bought was quite a tome at 292 pages. An ideal beach or airplane read (as you fly off to the villa in the Maldives mentioned on page 235 naturally.... ahem!)

Summary: High end glossy nonsense