Elle (stylized inall caps) is a French worldwidemagazine that offers a mix offashion and beauty content, and society andlifestyle. The titleElle meansshe in French.[2]Elle is considered "one of the world's largest fashion and lifestyle publications", with 45 international editions[3] totalling 33 million readers and receiving 100 million unique monthly visitors on its 55 digital platforms.[4][5]
It was founded inParis in 1945 byHélène Gordon-Lazareff.[6][7] The magazine's readership has grown since its founding, increasing to 800,000 across France by the 1960s.Elle editions have since multiplied, creating a global network of publications and readers.Elle's international expansion began withElle UK andElle USA in 1985. Previous magazine editors includeJean-Dominique Bauby forElle France andRoberta Myers, the longest-serving editor-in-chief atElle USA.Véronique Philipponnat is currently the director ofElle France.Nina García currently holds the position of editor-in-chief atElle USA, appointed after the departure of Roberta Myers. The Paris-basedLagardère Group, a subsidiary ofLouis Hachette Group owns the brand internationally.Elle France's official headquarters is located inLevallois-Perret,Greater Paris.[8]
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.[9] Women won the right to vote in 1944,[10] andElle dove immediately into long-form "newspaper-like" features on women's role in national politics and the growing feminist movement.[11]Elle would "celebrate a new type of woman: independent, modern, active, comfortable in her own skin and her time".[6] The first issue ofElle France was published on 21 November 1945[12] featuring Yolande Bloin on the cover dressed byElsa Schiaparelli. Bloin was an actress inJacques Becker's filmFalbalas.[13] The magazine had a circulation of 110,000 copies in 1945.[6]
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.[14]
Its 100th issue, published on 14 October 1947,[15] 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").[16]
Beverly Johnson became the first Black woman on the cover ofElle when she appeared in the 1970s.[17]
Lagardère Group subsidiary,Hachette Filipacchi Médias began pushingElle outside of France in 1985, launchingElle in the UK and the United States.[18] The Chinese version of the magazine was first published 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.[19][20]
In 1987,Elle Decoration was launched in France by the Lagardère Group. The brand's internationalisation began in the US with the launch ofElle Decor in 1989.
By 1991, the magazine's sales were in decline in the U.S.[21]
In 1995, the magazine circulated 5 million copies worldwide.[22]
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.[24] 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.[25] By retaining ownership of theElle brand in France and through licensing forms in 25 countries, Lagardère remained "the guarantor of brand consistency".[26] The strategic decisions onElle concerning the countries managed by Hearst would be "taken in close consultation" with Lagardère.[26]
Elle Brazil was the first commercial magazine in the world to have a transgender model on its cover, with Lea T. in December 2011. The Brazilian edition had also discovered transgender model Valentina Sampaio and had put her on the cover before French Vogue.Elle printed special collectors' covers for their September 2016 issue, and one featuredHari Nef, the first time an openly transgender woman had been on the cover of a major commercial British magazine.[27]
In April 2018, Lagardère Group soldElle France toDaniel Křetínský via his holding company, Czech Media Invest (CMI), parent ofCzech News Center.[28] Lagardère continues to own theElle brand in France and internationally by granting a "license for the exploitation of magazines".[28][29]
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."[30]
In June 2024, an article from Elle Decor announced the launch of the media brand's first residential tower located in Miami.[31]
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.[32][33][34] 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.[35]
Elle editors have includedJean-Dominique Bauby in France, who became known for writinga book after sufferingalmost total paralysis, andRobbie Myers for the US edition.[36] 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".[37] 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.[38] Patricia Wang was the first editor ofElle China.[39]Véronique Philipponnat [fr] is the current director ofElle France.[40]
As of 2019, seventy-eight media licenses from the brand are available around the world: oneElle Girl, twoElle Men, fiveElle à Table, twenty-fiveElle Decoration, and forty-fiveElle.[42] According to François Coruzzi, CEO ofElle International, the magazine's centrals are located in Paris, London, and New York, and it has 29 offices worldwide as of 2019.[42]
Technologically speaking, theElle brand is a global network encompassing over 46 websites. Subscriptions account for 73 percent of readers in the US.[43] Websites and social networks composeElle's 55 digital platforms.[42]
The first non-European edition ofElle was launched in 1970 asAn An Elle Japon. In the 1960s and 1970s editions were operated in Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland/Austria, and Yugoslavia.
In 1985 AmericanElle was launched with the first issue featuring supermodelYasmin Le Bon on the cover.[44] The magazine was jointly owned by Hachette and News Groups Publications (owned byRupert Murdoch).[45][18] The U.K. edition was also launched in 1985 and also featured Yasmin Le Bon on the cover.[46][47]
In the US, the vast majority (82 per cent) ofElle's audience is women between 18 and 49. Its readers have a median age of 34.7 years.[48] 40 percent of the readers are single, and themedian household income is $69,973.[49] "Our readers are young enough to think about life as an adventure and old enough to have the means to live it", said Roberta Myers, editor in chief.[50]
Elle España was then launched in October 1986.[51][52]Elle Italia andElle Hong Kong were launched in 1987.[53][54] The Italian publication went from a monthly publication to weekly publication in 2018.[54]
Elle Brasil was launched in 1988 and 30 years later in 2018 the magazine was shuttered.[55] In the same yearElle was also launched in China,[56] Greece,[57] Germany,[58] Portugal[59] and Sweden. However, in 2021 the Portuguese edition was closed.[59]
The following year in 1989 editions were launched forQuebec, The Netherlands and Switzerland.[60][61][62] Australian and Taiwanese versions were launched in 1990. 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.[63][64][65] In November 2020 the magazine returned in a digital only form.[66] 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.[67][68]
Elle Korea was launched in November 1992.[69] A year later in 1993Elle Singapore was launched.[70]
In 1994 Mexican,[71] Argentine,[72] Thai,[73] Polish, and Czech[74] editions were launched.[75]
Elle Russia was launched in 1996 and the South African edition was also launched in the same year.[76] The Russian edition was closed in 2022 after the licence was terminated due to theRussian Invasion of Ukraine.[77] Alongside the Russian and South African editionsElle India launched in 1996.[78][79]
Elle Romania andElle Norge (Elle Norway) were launched in 1997.[75][80]
Elle Canada,Elle Ukraine andElle Hungary were all launched in 2001.[82] In 2020Elle Canada closed its office inToronto but continued publication fromMontreal.[83]
Elle launched in Belgium in 2003 in both French and Dutch.
The Serbian edition ofElle was launched in 2005 along with a Bulgarian edition.[85][86]Elle Slovenia was also launched the same year.
In 2008Elle Indonesia andElle Finland launched.[87] A Danish edition was also launched later in 2008.[88] The Finnish edition was closed in February 2020.
A Vietnamese edition (Elle Phái đẹp) was launched in 2010, under a licence withRingier, however it ceased publication in 2020.[89][90] The magazine was later relaunched.
In 2012,Elle Lebanon was launched, however, it was quickly folded intoElle Oriental.
Elle Kazakhstan started publication in February 2015.
In February 2017 a digital edition launched for the Ivory Coast. It later begun publishing print issues.
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.[91]
Elle Egypt launched digitally in April 2024, a print edition will be launched in September 2024.[92][needs update]
Elle Luxembourg launched in September 2024.
Elle also publishes region-specific editions within countries, such asElle Hong Kong[note 1] andElle Québec, published in addition toElle China andElle Canada respectively. In Belgium since 2003,[93] Elle is published asElle Belgique (in French and forWallonia) andElle België (in Dutch forFlanders).Elle Middle East was launched in 2006 across the Middle East withElle Oriental[94] (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 December 2013,Elle US hired Randy Minor as design director.[96] In November 2016,Elle Canada promotedVanessa Craft to editor-in-chief, making her the first black woman at the helm of anElle magazine globally.[97]
In the 1980s,Elle signed an agreement with theJapanese Itokin,[99] a group based in Osaka specialising in ready-to-wear.[100]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.[101]
Nissan andElle collaborated and unveiled theNissan Micra Elle in September 2012, a limited-edition car specially designed for women.[102]
The brand has also been launched in thehospitality industry.[101] In 2023, the fashion magazine opened its firsthotel, Maison Elle, on the17th of Paris.[103] 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.[101]
^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.
^Gauchet, Yvonnick (30 April 2021)."La semaine des médias No. 24 ..." [Media Week No. 24: Nicolas Beytout, Stéphane Guy, Sonia Mabrouk, Nathalie Iannetta, Marie Portolan].Le Figaro (in French).Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved17 December 2023.
^"Elle - ACPM".www.acpm.fr.Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved11 May 2021.
^"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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