It’s no secret that due to the ongoing global health crisis, magazines have been hit hard. Despite the best efforts of editors to keep our favorite glossies afloat, there have been some changes. Which translated to historic moments down at newsstands when it came to 2021 magazine covers.
Condé Nast streamlined operations. Editions of Vogue now share content as a cost-cutting exercise resulting in some being left unable to produce localized content. Nevertheless, we encountered back-to-back British Vogue covers photographed by forum favorite Steven Meisel. Anna Wintour also appears to be shaking things up over at American Vogue with 14 of the magazine’s 20 cover stars never gracing the fashion bible before. Not to mention Emmanuelle Alt departing Vogue Paris on a high note with the unveiling of the title’s landmark 100th anniversary issue.
Meanwhile Samira Nasr continues to find her footing at American Harper’s Bazaar. Laura Brown’s InStyle remains one of the most buzzworthy publications. Michelle Lee helped Allure celebrate 30 years in print. At i-D, Alastair McKimm’s mission to reinstate the magazine as one of the most cutting-edge publications appears to be working.
From overuse of Photoshop on Madonna’s cover of V Magazine to Iman gracing British Harper’s Bazaar to diversity reigning supreme at British Vogue, here are the best and worst magazine covers of 2021.
Best and Worst Magazine Covers 2021
HIT: British Harper's Bazaar February 2021 Iman by Paola Kudacki
MISS: Vogue February 2021 Kamala Harris by Tyler Mitchell
HIT: Allure March 2021 Jennifer Lopez by Daniella Midenge
MISS: Vogue Italia February 2021 The Everyday Issue by Carlos Nazario
HIT: i-D Spring 2021 Naomi Campbell by Luis Alberto Rodriguez
MISS: Vogue Japan March 2021 Shanelle Nyasiase, Natasha Poly, Kayako Higuchi, He Cong and Edita Vilkeviciute by Luigi & Iango
HIT: British Vogue April 2021 Achenrin Madit, Janaye Furman, Mona Tougaard and Precious Lee by Steven Meisel
MISS: Vogue Spain March 2021 Bella Hadid by Micaiah Carter
HIT: WSJ. Magazine May 2021 Amber Valletta, Carolyn Murphy and Shalom Harlow by Lachlan Bailey
MISS: Vogue Germany April 2021 Edie Campbell by Giampaolo Sgura
HIT: InStyle June 2021 Andra Day by Chrisean Rose
MISS: Interview Spring 2021 Naomi Campbell by Hugo Comte
HIT: Vogue Paris June/July 2021 Imaan Hammam by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin
MISS: Harper's Bazaar August 2021 Gigi Hadid by Collier Schorr
HIT: Vogue China September 2021 Jinghan Fan by Hailun Ma
MISS: Vogue September 2021 Kaia Gerber, Anok Yai, Precious Lee, Bella Hadid, Sherry Shi, Ariel Nicholson, Yumi Nu and Lourdes Leon by Ethan James Green
HIT: British ELLE October/November 2021 Michaela Coel by Danny Kasirye
MISS: W Magazine Volume #5 2021 Dolly Parton by Harmony Korine
HIT: British Vogue November 2021 Adele by Steven Meisel
MISS: V Magazine V133 Winter 2021 Madonna by Steven Klein