i ♥ magazines

i have always loved magazines. ever since i can remember i was carrying one around. i used to beg my mother in the grocery store aisle to buy me just one more. i am forever a dreamer and magazines were my escape, my window into another world.

my first-ever "real" job out of college was an internship as an art assistant at working woman magazine in 1994. honestly, i had no idea what i wanted to do after i received my bachelor of fine arts, with a concentration in graphic design. i just knew i LOVED magazines. so without any help and very little knowledge, i went to the book store (no internet back than kids!!!) and grabbed a stack of any and every magazine that looked interesting... and off the resumes went. i was literally jumping for joy when the letter came in the mail that working woman was interested in me. i didn't know it yet but i was very lucky, because i met a freelance graphic designer at that internship who would end up introducing me to the creative and talented group of designers and editors i would work with for the next 15 years. along with this good fortune, working woman was literally across the hall from sassy magazine. this at the time was the edgiest, hippest, young women's alternative magazine out there. so it was ridiculously exciting to walk onto that floor everyday. after sassy folded, the editor in chief jane pratt, went on to create jane magazine, another one of my favorites. i do believe sassy magazine started my love for alternative and indie culture. thank you sassy!!!

my first paid job at a magazine was as an art assistant for YM magazine, so i know a thing or two about teen mags. today while browsing refinery 29, i came across a new indie teen magazine that is launching tomorrow: hardly magazine. this new online canadian magazine has been likened to sassy and hopes to accomplish something very important in my opinion and what my blog aims to achieve as well...

"those magazines had their own voice, but they also spoke to us—they gave us a voice. they reminded you that the world was bigger than your high school, and they introduced you to bands, writers, artists, and fashion designers that made the world beyond your immediate experience seem unbelievably exciting."

- founder of hardly magazine, 

jennifer lee via refinery 29

IMAGES FROM HARDLY MAGAZINE VIA REFINERY 29

last but not least, i have to mention another magazine that always brings it when it comes to indie culture. NYLON magazine is probably one of my all time favorites. i have been following it since day one and even have the very first issue packed away in my closet. it has ever inspiring fashion and beauty and is always on the forefront of awesome music. while so many of the good ones (i miss domino) have gone under, i am just happy in this rough market it has managed to stay alive.

so a little PS before i end this post: i must thank magazines from the bottom of my heart (corny as it sounds). through them, i learned to dream and to always be inspired, found a career where i felt at home, and also discovered an important life lesson... way more really does exist beyond our immediate experience. xo nikk

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PAGAN POETRY

vespertine

bjork
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