Marie Claire

French monthly fashion magazine. The gamble taken by Jean Prouvost, who founded the weekly newspaper Marie Claire in 1937, dedicated to a female public, amply paid off with the success of a continually evolving formula, which nevertheless remains true to its aim to provide its readers with new copy, sophisticated images at an accessible price, innovative graphics and varied proposals, with a colorful and optimistic cover featuring a fresh-faced, youthful woman. Moving to Lyon during the war, the newspaper continued until 1944. It reappeared a decade later as a monthly magazine, with greater attention to its contents and the needs of its readers, 75% of whom came from the provinces. For women who needed practical advice but also entertainment, the news stories by Louise de Vilmorin from Venice, Moscow, and Montecarlo became legendary. In 1960 the supplement “101 ideas for happiness” became “101 ideas, fantastic fashion opportunities.” The magazine did not merely perceive women as managers of the household but also as a force for social change. In their interests, important battles were fought by Marcelle Auclair, at the avant-garde of contemporary female and social problems. Rechristened “The couple’s magazine” in 1968, it took a leading role in the campaign for birth-control and supported militant feminism, without losing sight of the evolution of clothing. Indeed, in 1974, the editor-in-chief, Claude Brouet, ran a feature on male fashion. Ever changing, the monthly magazine was reacquired by Evelyne Prouvost in 1976, who became director. In 1977 the L’Oréal group took over 40%. Although fashion continued to be at the top of its agenda, Marie Claire maintained its guiding role, with features on law, testimonials and health, with particular attention paid to relationship issues. During the 1980s, with Catherine Lardeur as editor-in-chief, the magazine launched regional issues, with ten different editions. In 1982 an even bigger development took place, in the form of international editions, firstly in Japan and subsequently in many European countries, as well as overseas. The Italian Marie Claire, after the weekly version in the 1960s under Palazzi, was issued in a monthly edition by Mondadori in October 1987 under the direction of Vera Montanari, who was succeeded in 1994 by Chicca Menoni. The Italian formula remained faithful to the French original: a publication rich in information and emotion, dedicated to women who live, love, and work. In 2003 control of the magazine passed to the Hachette Rusconi group, with the return of Vera Montanari.
&Quad;2002. Russian, Polish, and Chinese editions were launched. Currently there are 24 national editions of the magazine. Seven are published by the Marie Claire Group, including Marie Claire Maison, Marie France, and Cosmopolitan.