^^^ It’s rather revealing of the dire state of these American mainstream publications that the page count has dwindled by so much. Where once the end-of-year issues have been steady at the 250+ page count, it’s been cut to half in 2020. The Nov issues of Vogue China has a page count of 254, while GQ China is at 242pg. Even Taiwan’s Bazaar with its reprint coverstory is at 174pg.
For American Bazaar to be so few pages for a Dec/Jan issue, it’s gasping for air at this point. Doesn’t help that Samira’s content is so catalogue/newspaper supplement in its aesthetic. I do appreciate that the art direction is tastefully executed— unlike the juvenile mess of Glenda’s, and that she’s showcasing women— even older women and not kidz, unlike Anna’s desperate begging from tweens these days. But Samira’s got to go beyond pedestrian, midrange department-store weekly-flyer sensibility (that cover is so generic, so weekly-flyer looking...) and bring some life and joy into her content. iIt’s so dreadfully dull and with imagery that is as memorable as ones from pages an IKEA catalogue.