Sometimes it’s hard not to gush too much when writing these introductions, but we absolutely love Becky Smith’s work. Over the years this pioneering art director has been involved with a number of our favourite magazines from I-D to British Vogue, Wallpaper* and Harper’s Bazaar to founding perennial mag nation favourite Lula in 2005.
A fashion magazine without being a catalogue, Lula is rarely described without using some combination of the words ‘dreamy’, ‘whimsical’ and ‘ethereal’ but perhaps more important than that particular aesthetic, it has carved out a style that’s a bold combination of indie smarts and high-end glossy appeal.
After almost five years, Smith left Lula in 2009 to bring us the inaugural edition of her new title, Twin magazine. We wrote about Twin when it first came out a few months ago (they’ve only released a single issue so far) and it’s definitely a magazine lover’s magazine; packaged in a large, hard cover book format and some 250 (!) individual covers.
In Smith’s own words, Twin is “more grown up, versatile and stronger” than Lula, and is definitely one of those rareties that is dripping with both style and substance.
And while issue number two isn’t due out until May, we’re really pleased to have Becky Smith choosing her five favourite magazines, which will hopefully serve to tide you over just a little bit until then.
1. Twen
You can find some old ones online. A German magazine created by groundbreaking art director Willy Fleckhouse in 1959. Fleckhouse was mainly a typographer, however he really allowed the photography to do the work and ran them BIG! And, graphically, the grid was constantly present.
2. The Face
I grew up with this magazine, my old boss Robin Derrick art directed on it with Neville Brody. Two of the best art directors… It just perfectly encapsulated what 13 to 25-year olds were feeling about music at the time. It was at its best in the beginning – in the early ’80s – and it introduced me to writers like Julie Burchill and Tony Parsons and photographers such as Juergen Teller and David Sims.
3. Vogue (French edition)
My favourite of the Vogues. I can’t read a word but it doesn’t matter… the photography, the styling, the models. C’est tout…
Just purely for the genius name. I’ve read a few ideas on the theory of why it’s called that… Something to do with the elephant I like to think.
5. Interview
Again the old ones were always the best, but I also like the current mag – especially the Craig McDean shoot with Kirsten Stewart. I also like the old covers of pop icons like Dolly Parton, Madonna, Diana Ross etc. The fact that it also featured illustrations by Warhol means it just can’t be beaten.
[...] First up was Kate Bezar, Dumbo feather’s founder and editor with her picks and lately, Becky Smith, the founder of UK mags, Lula and Twin, shared her faves (one of which was Dumbo feather, even if [...]
[...] Becky Smith’s top five mags of all time Classics are thus for a reason [...]
I love the magazines she chose. I have never heard of the Dumbo one before! Ha ha. By the way she did not found Lula though, she worked for the editor of Lula. I read an interview with the editor of Lula (I forget her name) before and she talked about when she invited Becky to work with her there. I bet it is online somewhere. I love Lula! I have never heard of Twin before but I will look for it now. I hope it is like Lula. 2 issues a year is not enough.