The magazine has a global audience reach of over 250 million people monthly,[4] 50 international editions, and spin-off publications such asElle Décoration,Elle Men, andElle à Table. The magazine is considered "one of the world's largest fashion and lifestyle publications".[5]
Hélène Gordon-Lazareff, Russian-born and Paris-raised, startedElle in Paris in the immediate aftermath of World War II. It was first sold as a supplement toFrance-Soir, edited at the time by Hélène's husband,Pierre Lazareff. Hélène,Elle's pioneering founder, returned to Paris from New York City to create a unique publication that grappled with the many forces shaping women's lives in France in 1945.[11] Women won the right to vote in 1944,[12] andElle dove immediately into long-form "newspaper-like" features on women's role in national politics and the growing feminist movement.[13]Elle would "celebrate a new type of woman: independent, modern, active, comfortable in her own skin and her time".[2] The first issue ofElle France was published on 21 November 1945[14] featuring Yolande Bloin on the cover dressed byElsa Schiaparelli. Bloin was an actress inJacques Becker's filmFalbalas.[15] The magazine had a circulation of 110,000 copies in 1945.[2]
In theElle articles featuring rising fashion designers, the magazine would provide free patterns of some of their fashion pieces. This allowed the general public to experience haute couture as the glamour of the fashion world was becoming accessible to the common working class.[16]
Its 100th issue, published on 14 October 1947,[17] featured the work ofChristian Dior just eight months after his debut show. Likewise,Brigitte Bardot had her firstElle cover at age 17, on 7 January 1952, months before her screen debut inManina, the Girl in the Bikini.
By the 1960s,Elle had a readership of 800,000 across France and was said to "not so much reflect fashion as decree it." This dominance was reflected in the famous slogan: "Si elle lit elle lit Elle (If she reads, she reads Elle)" (lit. "If she reads she readsShe").[18]
In 1987,Elle Decoration was launched in France by the Lagardère Group.
In 1995, the magazine circulated 5 million copies worldwide.[19]
In 2011,Hearst Corporation reached a €651M deal withLagardère to purchase the rights to publishElle Magazine in fifteen countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Ukraine.[20] Lagardère, which struggled in the international market in the 2000s, retained the rights to the French edition and would collect royalties from the international editions.[21] By retaining ownership of theElle brand in France and through licensing forms in 25 countries, Lagardère remained "the guarantor of brand consistency".[22] The strategic decisions onElle concerning the countries managed by Hearst would be "taken in close consultation" with Lagardère.[22]
At the end of 2021,Elle announced that all global editions would ban fur from their pages as of 1 January 2023, citing "a really great opportunity to increase awareness foranimal welfare, bolster the demand for sustainable and innovative alternatives and foster a more humane fashion industry."[25]
Elle magazine, while predominantly known for fashion and beauty, has frequently explored political and social issues. Some of the key topics covered byElle includegender equality.
Elle has published articles on combating gender inequality, showcasing influential women and advocating for equal pay and opportunities within the workplace. One notable edition was its "Women in Politics" issue, which shone a spotlight on female politicians worldwide. Elle has consistently raised awareness ofwomen's health and reproductive rights. The magazine covered the global struggles for access to safe abortion services, notably in the U.S. following legislative changes.Elle has also addressed issues of social justice, including racial equality and LGBTQ+ rights. It reported on the Black Lives Matter movement, emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusivity within all industries.[26][27][28] In 2025,Elle announced in Italy the2025 Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the sociologistPorpora Marcasciano (first transgender individual in history to be nominated to the prize), nominated by Dr. Tiziano Peccia.[29]
As of 2026, fifty-one editions ofElle are in operation, twenty-six editions ofElle Decoration,[31][note 1] nine editions ofElle Men,[31][note 2] and eight editions ofElle à Table.[31][note 3]
Elle also publishes region-specific editions within or across countries, such asElle Hong Kong[note 4] andElle Québec, published in addition toElle China andElle Canada respectively. In Belgium since 2003,[32] Elle is published asElle Belgique (in French and forWallonia) andElle België (in Dutch forFlanders).Elle Baltic was launched in 2026 for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.Elle Middle East was launched in 2006 across the Middle East withElle Oriental[33] (published in Arabic and French for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Maghreb). The two publications were later rebranded intoElle Arabia and the French edition was dropped.
In 1970, the first non-European edition of Elle was launched for Japan as a collaboration withAn An magazine asAn An Elle Japon. Prior to the entry into Japan, editions operated in Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland/Austria, and Yugoslavia throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1985, the American and British editions were launched both featuringYasmin Le Bon on their respective inaugural issues.[34][35][36] The American edition was jointly owned by Hachette and News Groups Publications (owned byRupert Murdoch).[37][38] The following yearElle España was launched.[39][40]
In 1987 editions launched for Italy and Hong Kong.[41][42] ItalianElle would move from a monthly to weekly release schedule in 2018.[42] Editions for China,[43] Greece,[44] Germany,[45] and Sweden in 1988. In 1989 editions were launched forQuebec, The Netherlands and Switzerland.[46][47][48]
In 1990 Elle Taiwan began publication.
Elle Korea was launched in November 1992.[49] A year later, in 1993,Elle Singapore was launched.[50] In 1994, Mexican,[51] Argentine,[52] Thai,[53] Polish, and Czech[54] editions were launched.[55]
Elle India andElle South Africa launched in 1996.[56][57] Romanian and Norwegian editions launched the following year.[55][58] An edition for Turkey launched in 1999.[59]
Elle Hungary andElle Ukraine were launched in 2001.[60] In 2002, a Croatian edition was launched.[61] A Belgian edition launched in 2003, available in Dutch and French.
Bulgarian, Serbian, and Slovenian editions launched in 2005.[62][63] Danish and Indonesian editions launched in 2008.[64][65]
In 2012,Elle Lebanon was launched; however, it was quickly folded intoElle Oriental. A Kazakh edition began publication in February 2015.
Elle Lithuania launched in February 2024, the magazine is published by the team who previously publishedL'Officiel Lithuania from 2010 till its closure in 2023.[66]Elle Luxembourg andElle O'zbekiston began publication in September 2024.[67] The Uzbek edition would close in November 2025 after payment disputes between the publishing company and editorial staff.
In January 2026,Elle Baltic was launched. An English-language edition ofElle Afrique Francophone is planned to launch at the end of 2026.[68]
In February 2017,Elle Côte d'Ivoire was launched as a digital-only publication. It later began publishing print issues before ceasing publication then returning to print in 2025.[68][69] In February 2026 the magazine rebranded toElle Afrique Francophone, now covering 23 Francophone African countries.[68] The debut cover ofElle Afrique Francophone featuredNaomi Campbell photographed byTrevor Stuurman in aChanel outfit styled byLaw Roach.[68][70]
In 1990,Elle Australia launched. However, in July 2020Bauer Media Australia licence holder of the Australian edition announced its closure, citing declining advertising revenue and travel restrictions associated with theCOVID-19 pandemic.[71][72][73] In November 2020, the magazine returned in a digital-only form.[74] In September 2023, it was confirmed that the magazine would return to print in March 2024, published byAre Media, the successor to Bauer Media Australia.[75][76]
A Brazilian edition launched in 1988 and the first run of the magazine would cease publication in 2018.[77] The magazine was relaunched in 2020 by former its editor-in-chief Susana Barbosa.[78]
It was the first commercial magazine in the world to have a transgender model on its cover, withLea T in December 2011. The Brazilian edition had also discovered transgender modelValentina Sampaio and had put her on the cover before French Vogue.
The magazine entered publication in 2001. In November 2016,Elle Canada promotedVanessa Craft to editor-in-chief, making her the first black woman at the helm of anElle magazine globally.[79]
In 2020, the Toronto branch offices were closed and the magazine continued publication fromMontreal.[80]
The Chinese version of the magazine began publication in 1988. It was the first four-colour fashion magazine offered in China. The magazine was an informational and educational tool for opening the Chinese textile market.[81][82] Patricia Wang was the first editor ofElle China.[83]
An Egyptian edition launched in April 2024, a print version of the magazine was planned to launch in 2024 under the direction of Susan Sabet.[84] As of 2026, the Egyptian edition is digital-only and Susan Sabet is no longer working for the magazine.
Elle Malaysia entered publication in March 2014 and was published in English.[85] The magazine ceased publication in 2017. The Malaysian edition relaunched in 2024 and is now published in Bahasa Melayu.[86]
A Russian edition of the magazine began publication in 1996.[88] The Russian edition was closed in 2022, after the licence was terminated due to theRussian Invasion of Ukraine.[89]
In September 2017, it was announced that Roberta Myers was stepping down from the role of editor-in-chief ofElle USA, position she held since 2000, stating through a memo to the staff that "I want to spend the next seasons as available to my children as I can be, and so I take my leave of Elle now".[92] A day later of the announcement, it was reported thatNina Garcia, creative director ofMarie Claire was appointed as the new editor-in-chief effective 18 September.[93]
A Vietnamese edition (Elle Phái đẹp) was launched in 2010, under licence withRingier; however, it ceased publication in 2020.[94][95] The magazine was later relaunched.
In the 1980s,Elle signed an agreement with theJapanese Itokin,[98] a group based in Osaka specialising in ready-to-wear.[99]Elle has been selling its lingerie in Japan for over forty years through licensing agreements.Elle has over 150 partners in 80 countries, all paying royalties to the brand.Elle has more than 3,000 stores worldwide, mainly in Asia. Under theElle brand, there are around tencafés, hair salons andspas. The brand also sells fashion, beauty and home decor products.[100]
Nissan andElle collaborated and unveiled theNissan Micra Elle in September 2012, a limited-edition car specially designed for women.[101]
The brand has also been launched in thehospitality industry.[100] In 2023, the fashion magazine opened its firsthotel, Maison Elle, on the17th of Paris.[102] Other Elle Hotel projects have been announced forMexico and around fifteen high-end hotels in the heart of cities that would open in the next ten years.[100]
In June 2024, an article from Elle Decor announced the launch of the media brand's first residential tower located in Miami.[103]
^abGonzalès, Paule; De Capèle, Gaëtan; Larroque, Philippe; Renault, Enguérand (5 January 2011)."Lagardère restera propriétaire de la marque Elle" [Lagardère will remain owner of the Elle brand].Le Figaro (in French).Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved16 December 2023.
^"India".Lagardère Global Advertising.Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved25 January 2024.
^Sørvald, Charlotte (31 August 2022)."Vi øker staben".www.elle.no (in Norwegian Bokmål).Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved25 January 2024.
^"Turkey".Lagardère Global Advertising.Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. Retrieved25 January 2024.
1 Louis Hachette Group (via Lagardère SA) owns these brands in the United Kingdom only. These brands are owned byScholastic Corporation in the United States.
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