My fav glossy mag (Marie Claire)

Member Name: albacookie

Product:	Marie Claire
Date:	13/10/09 (90 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Articles, freebies.

Disadvantages: Adverts, price.

Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine published by IPC magazines.

The current issue (November, with last year's X factor winner Alexandra Burke on the cover) is 338 pages and is priced at £3.40.

I have been buying Marie Claire regularly for the past few years, it tends to have more substance than some other monthly magazines. It has its fair share of fashion, sex and celebrity but there are also intelligent articles in each issue and it takes a green stance where possible - the magazine is printed on recycled paper and any free gifts are attached with biodegradable wrappers rather than plastic. The ratio of serious content/fluff pieces did seem to change when the magazine's new look was launched earlier this year - each issue lost about 50 pages and there was a definite increase in the number of glossy adverts in the new version.

The magazine does attempt to tackle some pretty serious subjects, mostly from the perspective of an individual, usually a young woman who the target readers can relate to. Though the journalism is never going to be very hard hitting but the articles are compassionate, can be thought provoking and provide a useful introduction to a subject. For example this month features victims of the civil war in Sierra Leone who had their hands amputated by the rebel soldiers and the story of a 17 year old homeless single mother who went on to run her own company. There are more low brow articles as well - pieces on beauty pagents, sex toys and plastic surgery - the balance feels about right between the two.

Being a glossy magazine the fashion pages do have an emphasis on designer clothes which are very expensive and way out of my price range but they do look great. There are some features with high street clothes but most things featured will be over £50 so not great for those on a budget. There are also beauty features - again these tend to feature products which are mid range and above but the ideas can always be adapted to suit your budget. There is generally a celebrity featured each issue with an indepth interview - usually someone with a new album or film to promote or sometimes someone who is an ambassador for a cause such as UNICEF or women's health.

Marie Claire's freebies also make it stand out, most issues come with one - this month it was a bar of Devine fair-trade chocolate, previously there have been Body Shop products, hair products and a pair of flip flops.

The magazine is pretty expensive but I recently took out a subscription for £6 for 6 issues which is much more reasonable.
I do think that Marie Claire was better before its relaunch but it is still my favourite monthly magazine.

Summary: My top pick.