Playgirl is again
A little over ten years since the last print edition of Playgirl magazine was brought back to life, with a renewed focus on the original feminist alignment that defined it in the 1970s and 80s. The first new issue of the magazine, now published once a year, is led by a predominantly female editorial staff and features stories that cover everything from mental health, activists, patriarchy and parenting to female friendship and BDSM.
In terms of appearance, the title is returning to its early glory days – meaning a '70s typeface specially designed for the magazine puts an emphasis on large, bold photographs of Harley Weir, Elinor Carucci and Myla Dalbesio, and with masculine and female nudity.
Above: Chloë Sevigny, photographed by Mario Sorrenti; Above: Photo by Harley Weir
Photo by Vanina Sorrenti
Aminatou Sow shot dead by Andre Wagner
Alex Wiederin, who has also worked with Dazed & Confused, The Face and Another Magazine, acts as creative director for the magazine and says it is "the idea of storytelling, not just a combination of text and image" that drives him moved to the project.
According to Wiederin, the redesign process was complicated, in part because people are now less concerned with print than they did when the original Playgirl magazine started, and also because plans to relaunch the magazine were interrupted by the arrival of Covid-19. He says his approach was to create a framework for playgirls to sing stories. “I combine content and design as often as I can,” he explains. "I don't believe in just creating an aesthetic that has nothing to do with the content. For me, it goes hand in hand."
Photo by Myla Dalbesio
Back, Shannon Cartier Lucy, Woman with Machete, 2020. Courtesy of the artist and the DeBoer Gallery, LA
Photo by Catherine Servel
"We wanted to connect to the 1970s, when it was founded and where it came from, and reinterpret it – as fun as it sounds, even certain content that was relevant then is still relevant today."
Wiederin believes that now was an especially fitting time to reintroduce the title after the Me Too movement and Harvey Weinstein's conviction. "It was the right moment to bring out a magazine that revisited the power of women. I think that's what this magazine was about and what we wanted to recreate."
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Sylvie Fleury, Wild Pairs, 1994-2015, Sprayed Stillettos, Pages of Playgirl magazine, Courtesy of the artist and Istituto Svizzero, Roma. Photo: © OKNOstudio
Playgirl magazine can be purchased online as well as in magazines and bookstores, design stores and museum stores worldwide for the price of £ 15. flikthru.co.uk