| Editor: | Francesca Ragazzi |
| Editor Title: | Head of Editorial Content |
| Frequency: | Monthly |
| Circulation: | 100,000 (2017)[1] |
| Category: | Fashion |
| Company: | Vogue Italia |
| Publisher: | Condé Nast |
| Founded: | [2] |
| Country: | Italy |
| Based: | Milan |
| Language: | Italian |
| Website: | vogue.it/en |
Vogue Italia is the Italian edition of Vogue magazine owned by Condé Nast International. In publication since 1964, it has been called the top fashion magazine in the world.[3]
In 1961, Condé Nast contacted the publishers of Novità ("Novelties"), a fashion magazine founded in 1950 by Emilia Kuster Rosselli, to explore the possibilities of investing in a new fashion publication in Italy. The magazine continued to be published as Novità until November 1965 and was edited by Lidia Tabacchi.[4] In November 1965, after 73 years since the birth of Vogue, the name of the magazine was changed to Vogue & Novità. In May 1966 Consuelo Crespi became the editor.[5] [6]
In 1966, Franco Sartori was appointed editor-in-chief and the magazine changed the name from Vogue & Novità to Vogue Italia. The first issue with the new name was published in May 1966. Sartori held the position of editor for 22 years until 1988. During his leadership Vogue Italia was augmented by a string of sister publications, including L'Uomo Vogue and Vogue Bambini.[7]
In 1988, Franca Sozzani (1950–2016) became the second editor-in-chief for the publication, with the July/August 1988 issue her first. Before editing Vogue Italia, Sozzani worked as editor for Vogue Bambini, and as editor-in-chief for Lei and subsequently for Per Lui, the men's edition of the former. After seeking new possibilities, the Italian journalist accepted the offer to edit Vogue Italia.[8]
In July 2008, Sozzani released the all-black issue, featuring only black models in the whole issue.[9]
The exclusive pictures of Ethel Granger, the woman with the smallest waist ever. Her fixation for corsets has inspired Vogue Italias September 2011 Issue.[10]
On 22 December 2016 Franca Sozzani died at the age of 66.[11]
On 20 January 2017, it was officially announced by Jonathan Newhouse, CEO of Condé Nast International, that Emanuele Farneti would be the new editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia and L'Uomo Vogue. Farneti was the director of eight different magazines, being the latest GQ Italia.[12]
In July 2017, it was announced that Condé Nast Italia would fold L'Uomo Vogue, Vogue Accessory, Vogue Bambini and Vogue Sposa, in order to focus on top brands, such as Vogue Italia and GQ among others.[13]
A year later, Farneti relaunched L'Uomo Vogue as a biannual publication. In July 2021 Farneti left the magazine after the publication of the September issue of the same year.[14]
On early September 2021, it was confirmed that the magazine would no longer feature an editor-in-chief but will be led by a head of editorial content, a position assigned to former fashion market director Francesca Ragazzi. In her new role, Ragazzi reported to Anna Wintour and to Vogue European editorial director Edward Enninful.[15]
Vogue Italia and the Italian fashion industry have historically had a symbiotic relationship, with Vogue Italia contributing to Milan's prominence in the fashion world.
Recent influential editorials have included Steven Meisel's September 2006 "State of Emergency", a visual play on the War on Terror,[16] and Meisel's July 2007 "Rehab", addressing recent celebrity visits to rehab clinics.[17] [18] and the August 2010 Issue, featuring Kristen McMenamy, shooting on the site of the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.[19]
Vogue Italia hosts their annual "Remix Contest" (in-association with the International Fur Federation) to provide a platform for up-and-coming designers. The contest was first launched in 2014.
In 2019, Netherlands-born designer Berivan Cemal[20] won the event; the judges' panel included Vogue talent Sara Sozzani Maino, expert of fur sustainability Samantha De Reviziis, Italian designer Gabriele Colangelo and Filipino fashion influencer Bryanboy.
The July 2008 issue of Vogue Italia featured only black models (photographed by Steven Meisel[21]), with the articles pertaining to black women in the media, arts and entertainment.[22] The magazine claimed to release this issue as a response to widespread criticism that fashion magazines, worldwide, do not feature more black cover models. Industry insiders have claimed that advertisers believe any magazine issue featuring a black cover model is "unable" to sell, or will sell considerably less than issues with non-black cover models. This belief, along with the formation of a protest group in New York City that challenges racism in the industry, convinced Italian Vogues editor, Franca Sozzani to create this issue.[23] Interestingly, rather than the issue not selling, it became the highest-selling issue of Italian Vogue in history, and had run-out of print twice, which marked the first time in Condé Nast history that the magazine reprinted an issue to satisfy demand.[24] The reprinted copies displayed headlines as "Most Wanted Issue Ever" and "First Reprint".[25]
However, even though the advertising pages increased by 30%, there was a "glaring lack of black models" in the issue. Meisel said: "I've asked my advertising clients so many times, 'Can we use a black girl?' They say no. Advertisers say black models don't sell."[25]
VogueEncyclo is a fashion encyclopedia founded by Vogue Italia (Condé Nast Digital).[26] [27] It went live on 10 October 2011. It has an archive with topics ranging from A–Z: fashion and costume, designers, photography, cinema, people, mania, bloggers, fabrics and architecture. Anyone is free to participate, all articles have bylines and Vogue staff reviews all submissions.
The whole of the content is accessible in either English or Italian.[28]