Let’s start this off by explaining that I’m a writer who hopes to have a magazine of my own one day, which explains my fascination with magazines and why I think everyone should read them.
Magazines have the opportunity to say and brand themselves however they want, and they have free reign to be as creative as possible. I think that alone is inspiring.
So here is a collection of a few of my favorite magazines that push the boundaries of creativity and will make for a great summer read:
What Youth
Image via globe.tv
I fell in love with What Youth the second I saw the trailer for their short film, “Dear Suburbia”. Full of nostalgia, abstract shots and an obscure soundtrack—I was sold. What Youth is basically a traveling diary, documenting the adventures of surfers, such as Craig Anderson and Noa Deane, through the lens of their photographer friend Kai Neville. It may sound a little bit like an exclusive boys club, but the intimate photo spreads, personable letter from the editor and the staff’s genuine appreciation for their readers make you feel like part of the What Youth family.
i-D
Image via models.com
As edgy as its cover stars such as Björk, Kanye and Tom Ford, i-D is a fashion magazine equal parts aesthetic and thought-provoking. i-D dedicates itself to showing off the most outspoken creatives of our generation while branding itself as a platform for conversation on insightful topics, such as the power social media has over art or social activists speaking out against skin bleaching. Oh, and the full page photo spreads are absolutely incredible.
Monster Children
Image via monsterchildren.com
This witty, photo-centric magazine that captures the surf and skate lifestyle in Australia and California is another one of my personal favorites. With their unique layout (a horizontal magazine?), full page color spreads and a photo annual, Monster Children is the kind of magazine you want on your coffee table so you can show off how trendy your taste in reading is. Find out where you can pick up your copy of Monster Children here.
Rookie Mag
Image via rookiemag.com
Rookie is the teen magazine we all wish we had growing up. After all, the founder, Tavi Gevinson, was a teenager herself when she launched the magazine. Instead of fawning over pop stars like most clip-art covered teen magazines out there, Rookie presents frank discussions about real issues that teens and young adults deal with, such as what it’s like to be a minority on a college campus or what it’s like to grow apart from your siblings. Rookie is instantly recognizable for its scrapbook-style layout and the fact that each issue is lovingly called a yearbook. *Cue the warm fuzzy feelings.*
OC Weekly
Image via jackienoname.wordpress.com
This one is free. Ah, grabbed your attention, right? OC Weekly is surprisingly full of quality content for a free magazine you can pick up off a newsstand on any given street. It acts as a local guide for the best concert venues, activities and restaurants to visit in Orange County, but it also doubles as a semi-satirical newspaper where everyone from Donald Trump to corrupt city officials is profiled. Definitely worth a read!
Oyster
Image via oystermag.com
Oyster is an edgy fashion magazine that one-ups Nylon in terms of style, pop culture, social issues and trends. It’s pretty much the classy, grown-up version of Nylon. With cover stars such as Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator, you can see how Oyster has maintained its alternative, high-fashion vibe since 1994. As of now, a print copy will be hard to come by, but you can always hang out on its website and enjoy its accessible bloggy feel.
Bl!sss
Image via bl!sssmag.com
Here’s another free one for your list—Bl!sss Magazine. What I love about this magazine are the cover artists they feature, like C.R. Stecyk, El Mac and Retna and Barry McGee. Bl!sss devotes a good five to six pages of artist features which I’ve always appreciated as a wannabe artist myself. Aside from its great taste in art, Bl!sss does an awesome job of showcasing Orange County talent in the surf and skate realm. You can pick up a copy at literally any skate shop in Orange County.
GOOD Magazine
Image via johnathonsager.com
Anything and everything from sustainable living, social issues, conscious travel to pop culture—yeah, GOOD features it. In fact, according to their blog, their mission is to “champion a new era of living well and doing good.” Their clever graphic designers develop nifty infographics that break down topics like America’s public opinion on immigration to the amount of women leaders in other countries compared to the U.S. If you want heavier reading material that’s presented in a digestible way then this is a good place to start (ha, get it?)
Vice
Image via magazine.org
I know I’ve said that a lot of these magazines are my favorite but Vice is one of my top faves, really. Vice magazine is a hard copy of—you guessed it—Vice Media. Turns out they have print issues just as daring as their website. With titles such as “The Borders Issue,“ you know that the magazine isn’t afraid to push boundaries. These aren’t just any magazines either, these are books—thick books with beautiful, full-page photos, thoughtful essays and powerful reports. If you’re lucky enough to see one, grab it! They go by fast.
Browntourage
Image via blacksaltcollective.tumblr.com
Browntourage is another magazine that lives online, but that doesn’t mean it lacks any of the impact of a print magazine. Browntourage’s mission is to promote diversity in entertainment and in the arts. The site does this by featuring strong women who are making a name for themselves in the fields of music, writing, performance art and other mediums. I think what makes this magazine so accessible and enticing is the fact that it appeals to this generation that lives online. We see a lot of social change and positivity through online media, so Browntourage knows exactly where they need to be.
A couple years ago, people thought it would be fun to say that print is dead. But I think it’s evolving. If anything, we’re seeing edgier, crazier, more artistic publications coming out, which is actually making this a really exciting time for print.
Did your favorite magazines make the list? Let us know using the hashtag, #CampusCropChat on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Don’t forget to follow us on Snapchat @asicpp!
