The most iconic covers of fashion magazines have always reflected big momentum in fashion and the world: advancements in society and technology, a switch in the editorial style in a transition between two editors in chief, new talents who would later become icons, and so on.
As the industry’s leading publication, Vogue is responsible for creating some groundbreaking covers through the years. It showcase the evolution of Vogue and what’s happening in the fashion industry. The magazine has been running for 132 years, and the American edition alone has published 2915 issues. So there are countless beautiful covers in the archives of Vogue.
Knowing the most iconic Vogue covers is important for anyone interested in fashion, especially if you dream of breaking into the industry. We selected 24 which according to us are the best Vogue covers of all time. Take a look at our selection and enjoy the ride through the visual history of Vogue.
24 Best Vogue Covers Of All Time
The First Vogue Issue
Of course, the very first issue of Vogue is on our list of favorites. It was published on December 17, 1892. Vogue started as a publication that “dignified authentic journal of society, fashion, and the ceremonial side of life.” The first cover featured a debutante, whose portrait was drawn by A. B. Wenzell, a fashionable artist whose work was described at the time as being popular “with the art worshippers of society”, according to Vogue.
The First Color Cover Of Vogue
In 1932, American photographer Edward Steichen shot the first color photograph ever printed in Vogue. It was one of a kind because it marked the arrival of fashion photography in the glossy publication. Before, the covers featured illustrations, most of which were gray-scale.
The First Woman Of Color To Appear On The Cover Of Vogue
It was British Vogue which gave the first cover to the woman of color. The honor was given to fashion model Donyale Luna. The shoot was directed by David Bailey, inspired by Picasso’s ocular-centric portraits. Only a single eye is visible through her fingers, which form a V for Vogue. Overnight, Donyale Luna became an international celebrity and one of the most in-demand models in the world. TIME magazine even named 1966 “The Luna Year”!
Donyale Luna’s cover was a major moment in fashion history. It raised the importance of diversity and laid the foundation for non-white models to feature on the pages and covers of fashion magazines.Â
The First Man On The Cover Of Vogue
The first man to be featured on the cover of Vogue was actor Helmut Berger in British Vogue’s July 1970 issue. It wasn’t his solo cover, though, as he posed next to actress Marisa Berenson. But for a man to be on the cover of a women’s magazine was still a major thing. Well, the reason is, well, they primarily targeted the female audience.
Over the years, Vogue began stepping out of the traditional ways to bring fashion to the public. They want to make it more diverse and inclusive. The December 2020 issue marked a historic moment in the history of Vogue. Harry Styles became the first man to appear solo on the cover of the magazine.Â
Another Vogue milestone happened in October 2022. Timothée Chalamet graced alone the cover of Vogue UK, for the first time in the British edition’s 106-year history.
Anna Wintour’s First Vogue Cover
Anna Wintour made a strong entry in the Vogue magazine. For her first November 1988 issue as editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour chose to place on the cover a 19-year-old Israeli model Michaela Bercu. She weas wearing a $50 pair of faded Guess jeans and a bejeweled jacket by Christian Lacroix worth $10,000. When the print company saw the cover, the staff thought it was the wrong image. They called the magazine to check if it was correct. And their surprise is understandable because it was the first time a Vogue cover model had worn jeans, mixing low and high fashion. This makes it one of the best and most memorable covers of Vogue.
Most Iconic Vogue Supermodel Covers
This cover from Vogue’s January 1990 issue, shot by Peter Lindbergh, is the one that set the beginning of the Nineties supermodel era. Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, and the late Tatjana Patitz started modeling in the 1980s but they were still relatively unknown, at least compared to the scale of their fame nowadays. So this cover is for sure one of the best Vogue ever made.
For the September 2023 issue, Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful brought back the four iconic supermodels on the covers of American and British Vogue. They were photographed by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by Edward Enninful. “For my last September issue, what better way to celebrate than with four women who have, over the course of more than three decades, come to define the very idea of fashion itself: the original supermodels,” Enninful explained in Vogue.
Vogue Italia All Black Issue
When the late Franca Sozzani was appointed editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia in 1988, she created a strong visual identity for the magazine. Her July 2008“ All-black” issue featured only models of color on the cover and across all editorials. It sold out so quickly that Condé Nast had to print an extra 40,000 copies!
Vogue Anniversary Issues
Vogue had issued special editions to celebrate the magazine’s 100th anniversary. American Vogue was the first international edition to see the day in 1892, and its 100th issue was published in April 1992. British Vogue’s 100th anniversary edition followed in June 2016 and Vogue Paris (now Vogue France) celebrated its 100 years in October 2021.
Iconic Vogue September issues
In fashion, the September issues are the most important in the editorial calendar. As we transition from summer to fall, we need a new wardrobe, and so September represents the big shopping time. Thanks to September issues, we learn about the latest trends and releases of fall/winter products and receive recommendations from magazines on what to buy and how to style our looks this season.
As the industry’s leading fashion magazine, Vogue gets the highest attention for the September issue from fashion brands and publishing companies, who want to provide the reader with the best content possible to promote their products.
In American Vogue’s September 2018 issue, Tyler Mitchell became the first Black photographer to shoot a Vogue cover. A first in the magazine’s 126-year history.
September issues are usually focused on fashion. However, for September 2019, Edward Enninful wanted to shake things up, focusing instead on trailblazing female changemakers – from activists to artists, prime ministers to climate change campaigners who are making a difference in the world. Meghan Markle, HRH The Duchess of Sussex guest-edited this landmark issue with Edward Enninful. The cover has been photographed by Peter Lindbergh – his first for the magazine since September 1992.
For the first time in September 2020, Vogue Italia did 100 printed covers under the theme “100 Covers, 100 People, 100 Stories.”
The Biggest Vogue Issue Ever
You may have noticed that September issues are the most voluminous of all. Well, in September 2012, American Vogue broke the record by releasing a 916-page issue, including 658 of advertising.
Best Vogue Covers Published During Covid-19
At the peak of the pandemic, Edward Enninful released 3 exceptional British Vogue covers, fronted by 3 unknown people whom Edward thought everyone should know because of their commitment to helping people during those difficult times: Narguis Horsford, a train driver on the London Overground, Rachel Millar, 24, a community midwife in east London, and Anisa Omar, a 21-year-old supermarket worker in King’s Cross. The July issue also featured other professionals across 20 pages, including doctors, shopkeepers, postal workers, nurses, cleaners, epidemiologists, carers, teachers, ambulance drivers, and volunteers from the fashion community and beyond.
We also loved this cover of Vogue Portugal.
Best French Vogue cover
In April 2023, BeyoncĂ© and Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing released “Renaissance Couture” – a co-designed collection inspired by Beyoncé’s latest album “Renaissance”. Vogue immortalized this iconic moment in fashion history, showing one of the 16 looks from the collection.
Vogue Italia AI Cover
For its May 2023 cover, Vogue Italia took a real shot of Bella Hadid and placed it on imaginary backgrounds created by the artificial intelligence program DALL-E. A fantastic work where fashion met technology.
Vogue Karl Lagerfeld Cover
For its May 2023 cover, Vogue US paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, asking 10 designers to create looks inspired by the legendary late fashion designer. Pierpaolo Piccioli, John Galliano, Donatella Versace, Chitose Abe, Olivier Rousteing, Thom Browne, Christopher John Rogers, Jun Takahashi, Simone Rocha, and Gucci designers took part in the project. The shooting took place at the Grand Palais in Paris – a location where Karl showcased his Chanel collections many times.
Fashion Designers On The Covers Of Vogue
We loved seeing Miuccia Prada grace the cover of Vogue US’ March 2024 issue. It’s interesting indeed to see not only the looks made by famous fashion designers but also the creatives behind them.
Edward Enninful’s Last Cover For British Vogue
For his final 76th issue as editor-in-chief of British Vogue, published in March 2024, Edward Enninful chose to feature 40 women who inspire him. It was a beautiful wrap, and we love that Enninful gave the stage to not one but many talented women.
Did you like our selection of the best Vogue covers? What are your favorites? Share with us in the comments and follow me on Instagram.
