Five years ago, preteen girls had two options, YM or Seventeen. Now there’s a whole gaggle of girlie mags, like the just-launched Teen Vogue. The focus has shifted from boys to fashion, but is lusting over a Marc Jacobs jacket more admirable than lusting over Orlando Bloom? Tip Sheet’s Katherine Stroup helps you figure which is best for your kid:
Teen Vogue 10 issues a year $10 Aimed at: The FIT (fashionista in training) Pros: The crisp design and small format, so it’s easy to hide during class Cons: The overwrought fashion spreads. It’s impossible to imagine any of these clothes on a real live teen.
ELLEgirl bimonthly $7.47 Aimed at: Off-beat, street chics Pros: The international flair, cheap ‘Wish Lists’ and fashion flipbook, the best feature in any mag this month Cons: The cluttered, designed-by-a-yearbook-staff page layouts
CosmoGIRL 10 issues a year $8 Aimed at: The Cosmo reader’s younger (chaster) sister Pros: Even with ‘Cosmo’ in the name and Christina on the cover, there’s still no raunchy sex talk. (Trust us.) Cons: The dull fashion and beyond-bland prom-gown picks
Teen People 10 issues a year $15.97 Aimed at: Celeb-savvy ‘TRL’ fans Pros: The professional feel (it’s been around longer, and you can tell). Don’t miss the series on teen drug use. Cons: The annoying use of ’thought bubbles’ next to stars’ photos
