Vanity Fair Logo
Thanks to the combination of lively writing, bold portraits, and sharp cultural topics, Vanity Fair has become a recognized symbol of the modern journalism society. Vanity Fair publishes annual rankings of the representatives of the “New Elite” and “Hollywood Issue”. The release of the “Hollywood Issue” is accompanied by the Vanity Fair evening, also known as the Oscars afterparty and the main party of the year in the USA.
Meaning and History
The term “Vanity Fair” was used to describe at least five 19th-century journals. Following the first American edition that ran from 1859 until 1863, there was the publication of the British and New York editions. Only one has endured to this day, though. Following his successful purchase of Vogue four years prior, American publisher Condé Montrose Nast published Dress and Vanity Fair, a magazine centered around fashion and upper society, in 1913. The magazine changed its name to its current one in 1914. Financial difficulties, though, compelled Condé to abandon the endeavor. The journal was relaunched in only 1983 after being discontinued in 1936. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Vanity Fair 100 Years: From the Jazz Age to Our Century was published in 2013.
What is Vanity Fair?
Vanity Fair is an American magazine covering culture, fashion, and politics, published by Conde Nast Publications. In addition to its controversial photography, the magazine is also known for its high-quality articles.
1983 – 2000
Vanity Fair always had a rather minimalistic logo design. After the revival in 1983, it turned to a classic and timeless black-and-white color palette that gave it a powerful and strong appearance. The use of all caps gives the logo more significance and allows it to stand out against even the most daring and colorful publication covers. To make the logo look unique, the designer used a distinctive font with high stroke contrast, tall and thin characters, and the characteristic letter “R”.
2000 – 2013
At the turn of the new century, straight stroke cuts have been replaced by sharp, pointed ends. Also, the strokes have the same thickness for a more daring and bold look. The magazine aimed to appeal to the modern reader and its new minimalistic, geometric, and at the same time impressive did the job.
2013 – 2018
The logo has been updated for the 100th anniversary. The anniversary issue’s cover featured the new logo. The publication, which replicated the cover of the original issue of Dress and Vanity Fair in 1913, featured Kate Upton, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. The company turned to Christian Schwartz (Commercial Type) to create this design. It would seem that such an occasion requires some drastic changes. However, the designer simply gave the existing logo a little more sophistication and grandeur. It was achieved through the addition of hairline serifs and the use of high stroke contrast. The result is a classic and majestic brand image.
2018 – Today
A red color was introduced in 2018. It speaks about the power and great achievements of the publication. It is the color of a leader and the great people it talks about in every issue. The font has also been slightly modified and acquired angular arms. The letters also appear to be taller than earlier.
Font and Color
Up until 2018, the publication used black for its logo. The color is not only a classic and timeless choice, but it also looks elegant, formal, and sophisticated. Given that the publication is aimed at the higher society, the black color is a successful choice. Lately, the logo features a very bright shade of red. It is another powerful color that instantly grabs the attention. The color is meant to reflect the confidence of the brand as well as the passion of every member who helps to keep it going strong.
The font used in the 1983 and later issues looks exactly like Gothink Bold font. There are multiple fonts that will give the same look as the logo used from 2000 until 2013. These include Klik Medium Condensed font, Varvara Medium font, and Balgin Bold Condensed font. For the 100th anniversary, the designer used a serif font similar to Dionisio Bold Condensed font or Liliom Pro font. Later, it switched to a more angular font that resembled Basilia Pro Medium Compressed by Linotype.
