Harper's Bazaar

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Harper's Bazaar was inspired by the German publication Der Bazar. Fletcher Harper proposed an American edition, and after initial hesitation from his brothers, the magazine debuted under Harper & Brothers. Its early success was due to receiving electrotypes of original printing plates from Der Bazar, allowing it to publish European fashion illustrations months ahead of American competitors. The magazine was edited by Mary Louise Booth until her death in 1889, and under her tenure it was described as a covert voice for women's rights, though Booth denied any political agenda. In 1913, William Randolph Hearst purchased the magazine, which had been losing money, and transformed it into a thick glossy publication. The name changed to Harper's Bazaar with the November 1929 issue, though the legal name change was filed on December 30, 1930. Carmel Snow became editor-in-chief in 1934 and hired art director Alexey Brodovitch, who revolutionized magazine design with his use of white space, cropped layouts, and the Didot typeface. Brodovitch introduced photographers such as Richard Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, and Irving Penn, and artists including Man Ray and Andy Warhol. In 1937, Guadeloupean model Ady Fidelin became the first Black model featured in a major American fashion magazine when she appeared in Harper's Bazaar. The magazine is considered the long-time rival to Vogue.

Reader's Guide

Harper's Bazaar holds a significant place in fashion publishing history as the oldest continuously operating women's fashion magazine in the world. The magazine's influence peaked under art director Alexey Brodovitch (1934–1958), whose innovative layouts and use of white space set new standards for magazine design and made Harper's Bazaar a showcase for groundbreaking photography. Photographers like Richard Avedon created iconic images for the magazine, and the 1937 feature of Ady Fidelin marked an early milestone for Black representation in fashion media. The magazine's rivalry with Vogue has defined much of its editorial direction, and its reinvention under editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis and art director Fabien Baron restored its status as a fashion industry powerhouse. Today, Harper's Bazaar continues to be published from Hearst Tower in New York City, maintaining its role as a style resource for women.

Did You Know?

• Harper's Bazaar was originally published as a weekly titled Harper's Bazar, with the second 'a' added in the November 1929 issue.
• The magazine's early success came from receiving electrotypes of original printing plates from the German publication Der Bazar, allowing it to publish European fashions months ahead of American competitors.
• Guadeloupean model Ady Fidelin became the first Black model featured in a major American fashion magazine when she appeared in Harper's Bazaar in September 1937.
• Art director Alexey Brodovitch introduced the Didot typeface to the magazine, which became its logo font and was later copied by Vogue, L'Officiel, and Elle.
• Carmel Snow's move from Vogue to Harper's Bazaar in 1932 caused a stir, with Condé Nast never speaking to her again.