Featured Article: Elle UK 2012 Covers Recap

It seems like Elle UK‘s cover budget is decreasing this year because almost every single cover shot was taken at studio. But who knows, even if it’s taken at studio, perhaps it was located far away from Elle UK‘s HQ. And only God knows the total amount of money they’ve paid to book those major cover stars this year. The budget probably increased instead of decreased.

This year, the Lorraine Candy-edited monthly fashion magazine (Jenny Dickinson helmed the magazine for a brief moment while Mrs.Candy had her pregnancy leave) had two cover shots outdoor, featuring Kristen Stewart and David Beckham respectively. Beckham‘s covers easily triumphed the emotionless front pages of Kristen Stewart. The colors on K-Stew‘s covers were lovely, but she failed to give sparks on the eyes. FYI, David Beckham made history because he was the first solo male cover star for the magazine.

We loved it when Elle UK used colored backdrop, because the results weren’t boring like when they used white. Just look on how boring was the May issue with Emily Blunt (the subs was way better), September with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, October with Gwen Stefani and November issue with Jessie J (her subs also better than the newsstand version). Those gorgeous dresses can’t saved the images from being dull. There’s an exception though. The January covers with Lady Gaga was interesting because of the bright outfits and minimal text.

Young, talented and bright actors Dakota Fanning (our favourite cover star!) and Mila Kunis landed their very first Elle UK cover this year. The 18 year old was photographed by David Slijper, while the 29 year old former face of Miss Dior handbags was snapped by Doug Inglish. The rest of the cover stars are having better subscriber covers than the newsstands, in our opinion. We are loving those simple, minimalist and no-fuss images of Alexa Chung, Ashley Olsen and Cameron Diaz over their newsstands version.

Overall it’s a hit-and-miss year for Elle UK. But, we are looking forward for their next year’s line up already. Especially after they released their first 2013 cover star, Kylie Minogue (her 7th covers for the magazine!), and it looks promising.

Feel free to jump in the comment box below and share to us your favourite Elle UK covers this year.

Check out also our recap of 2011 line up, here, and 2010 line up, here.

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Featured Article: InStyle UK 2012 Covers Recap

This year, InStyle UK presented only one cover with grey masthead, unlike last year where they used grey on the first five editions, and that’s a good thing. Even though most of the mastheads are using muted or pale colors, but that’s the magazine’s signature which separates them from their US sister.

We are pleased with the cover stars (well, mostly), the color combination and the execution of this year’s line up from Eilidh MacAskill-edited monthly fashion publication. We also loved how the fashion editors styled the covers and how the EIC finalized the end results. They matched the masthead with the dress (Cameron Diaz‘s July and Daisy Lowe‘s September issue); the cover stars wearing white minimal ensemble and let the bold accessories and dress details pop (April with Drew Barrymore, June with Eva Green and December with Dakota Fanning); the multicolored dresses on the cover that doesn’t hurts the eyes (February with Nicola Roberts, March with Heidi Klum and October with Olivia Palermo), and the black outfits that looks great (Kim Kardashian‘s August and Naomie Harris‘ November issue).

Our least favourite covers goes to Gwen Stefani‘s January and Jennifer Aniston‘s May (the image it’s a reprint from InStyle US March issue, just like Cameron Diaz‘s cover).

Check out also our review of last year’s line up, here, and 2010 line up, here.

Share to us your favourite ones from InStyle UK in the comment box below.

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Featured Article: Cosmopolitan UK 2012 Covers Recap

Still with it’s signature white backdrop and horrible amount of text, Cosmopolitan UK tapped Kim Kardashian (reprint from Cosmo US) and Holly Willoughby to return as two of their 2012 cover stars. Both of the mentioned names graced the magazine’s cover last year. Kim Kardashian even landed yet another slot this year as she graces one of the December covers with her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney. While the other cover was featuring British boy band, One Direction.

Our favourite this year goes to Pixie Lott‘s soft colored February issue and Tulisa Contostavlos‘ bold November issue. Some may not like Tulisa‘s daring look but she nailed that peroxide blonde hair in our opinion. And the pose it’s so Cosmo!

The rest of the cover girls this year are actress Katherine Heigl, the voluptuous Mad Men star Christina Hendricks, The Saturdays band members Mollie King and Rochelle Wiseman, New Girl‘s Zooey Deschanel, track and field athlete Jessica Ennis, former Pussycat Dolls member and the current judge of The X Factor Nicole Scherzinger, and last but not least Gossip Girls‘ lead star and singer Leighton Meester.

Which one is your favourite cover from Cosmopolitan UK this year?

Follow our Twitter (@art8amby), Facebook (art8amby) and Tumblr (art8amby) to get the latest news in magazine covers, models, ad campaigns, editorial, fashion news and occasional movies and music.