44 out of 44 people found this review helpful.
A Lot of Fluff
Date of Review: Feb 15, 2000
I have several Allure magazines sitting around my house, thanks to my 15 year old niece who resides with us. So out of curiosity and of course concern for my niece's reading material-- I decided to scour through this magazine.
My, my, is it any wonder why my niece is trying desperately to diet herself into nothing? This magazine is filled with people of near perfection, whatever perfection means. And the means of achieving that perfection are described in every issue. Take this piece of diet advice; Avoid fruit juice. It may seem friendly, but there are a lot of calories lurking inside that tall glass of cran-raspberry. Dilute it, or skip it. Well, well, isn't that just sensible advice? Excuse me while I dump out my freezer full of orange juice. The next article goes on to describe the virtues of the latest weight-loss pill. And yet another article analyzes which "look" will drive men wild, with a serious debate of bra vs. bra-less.
Let me quote from last year's letter to the editor: "I love your magazine," one reader gushes. "Your June issue was simply the best. Pedicure 101 was at the top of my list..." Need I say more?
If you want the latest advice on makeup, manicures and pedicures, you'll find valuable information in the pages of Allure. If you want to find the latest fashions with which to clothe your near perfect body, you'll be able to find clothes displayed here.
If you're looking for a magazine of substance that will challenge you with thoughtful articles, you'll have to look elsewhere. I could not find any articles of interest, except an interview with Sharon Stone. However, the interview was peppered with references to the car she drives (BMW), her cashmere top by Donna Karan and facelifts ("I really hope that I won't get a face-lift").
The few bits and pieces of useful information, such as a brief blurb about food and guilt are so brief that they are almost useless and leave the reader wondering where to go for more information.
This magazine feeds into our societal image that thinness and beauty are to be revered, everything else be damned. It puts forth a dangerous message to women, that beauty, makeup and a thin body are the only things that truly matter.
When my teenage niece comes home today, I'll be sitting down with her and talking about reasons why this magazine should be tossed in the trash.
