Friday, June 6, 2008

My Magazine Dilemma


Photo credit: Fashtastic

As many of you might know by now, I live in Japan and so I usually only buy the Japanese version of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle. It's not that stores don't sell U.S. Vogue and such, but it gets very pricey because it's imported from another country. And I also happen to find Japan's Vogue organized quite well with good editorials.

Every now and then my brother and sister that live in America come to Japan for a quick visit and I always ask them to buy me the U.S. version of Vogue. How hard can that be? Just go to the store, grab a Vogue, and you're done, right? Well that's not the case for my family. No, no, no.

To explain things, my older sister is a very smart girl, sometimes disgustingly smart and she's very committed to school. Just imagine a smart Japanese girl. And my brother is, well, a typical 20 year old college boy doing his thing, living life, whatever.

The first time one of them visited, they accidentally bought the UK version of Marie Claire instead. Hey, I'm totally fine with that, and I just told them that it's cool and everything. I just have trouble sometimes understanding the pricing of all the clothes and shoes because it's a different currency that I'm not familiar with.

2nd time around, they buy me a British Vogue and we all have a big laugh about it and I tease my siblings about how clueless they are with fashion and magazines.

And recently my sister came back, and guess what, she bought me another British Vogue (and this is after I specifically requested the U.S. Vogue)! COME ON! Get it together! Again, we all laugh about it and I sigh to myself thinking, "These two siblings of mine have no idea."

Really it's no big deal (British Vogue is great), but sometimes I wonder why people like my brother and sister have a hard time keeping up with fashion or understanding magazines. They don't even look at the magazines when they buy them, they just guess and blindly take it off the shelf and say "It says Vogue on it, so it must be what she wants..." This whole dilemma will always make me wonder, but for now it's something funny to look back at. And maybe I should buy the magazines myself after all, even if it's expensive...

36 comments:

lc said...

actually, i think british vogue is better than us vogue!

ps - linking you now!

Cheryl Lynn Pastor Romance Author said...

You moved to Japan??!! Wow, I've got to get a better life...

Anonymous said...

that teen vogue with nicole richie was one of my all-time favorite issues, i remember since it was from september, so it showcased all of the great fall items!

Maria said...

My friend is going to Japan and I guess it will be lot easier to her to fill the task of Vogue-buying :D

Style On Track said...

oh japan! i have always dreamed of going there :D

Danz said...

Haha, that's funny. Siblings always find ways to get on your nerves.

I have a younger sister and she purposely does things to get to me *sigh*.

That may be what they're doing as it's happened more than once...or they probably really don't care about which Vogue they buy for you.

Any Vogue is good for me really but sometimes I may want a particular one so I get where you're coming from.

bianca said...

i know what you mean. my brothes are fashion illiterate and make fun of any article of clothing i have because they don't understand why i would wear it. whatever, they are eleven and fourteen. but that is frustrating about us vogue. next time your brother or sister comes to the states, get them to buy you nylon! i love it more than vogue it has some amazing spreads.

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

Oh, I know how you feel! I would just browse the English magazines for hours in the stores (because I can speak Japanese tolerably well, but most kanji is beyond me). I asked my family for one magazine while I was in Japan--the Teen Vogue featuring the Harry Potter characters--they didn't get. I'm still sad about that, it looked like a fabulous issue!

zaiii said...

this post made me giggle :P
also, ive finally had time to update my blog so take a look :) thankss xx

Sharon S said...

Aah-thats made me smile! I'm pretty sure they can't be doing it on purpose, but I can understand why you feel fed up now!! Thanks for visiting me and would love to swap links-I've added you already!!

Hebden said...

Hi,

Thanks for your comment, I'd love to swap links...in fact, it's already done.

Jillian Hobbs said...

Thanks for visiting my blog!

First off your header is so cute!

Oh that stinks about Vogue... but then again i've spend so much on Vogues that it would probably be better that I DIDN'T buy them!I guess british vogue is better than no vogue! I wish i could get my hands on paris/italian vogue *sigh*

<3 it's okay someday they'll get it right!

Edrick said...

magazines are one of my weaknesses! and it's really an expensive hobby, but IMHO it's worth the splurge and investment right?? :-)

AlicePleasance said...

...But you have all those gorgeous japanese magazines!!!! I can't buy anything else than italian magazines here: Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour and Velvet. Anything else (and they're out all together around 15th of each month, so for the rest I have nothing to read!!), I live in a small town and I can't find international versions :-(

Anonymous said...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog, It'd be great to do a link exchange, I do love finding new fashionesque blogs!.. and I completely know what you mean about people being clueless about fashion, notin a bad way, but it's really interesting.

CAT KHAN said...

I added you onto my blog roll already :)

i like reading your blog
xxx
knightcat

Julia said...

Oh no, US vogue is horrible! I find it so funny that you want it when I don't even want it for free. British Vogue >>>>> US hands down. Perhaps your siblings have superior taste to sub par products ;)

Vain and Vapid said...

Actually I always try to get Vogue Paris, I love the editorials even though I don't speak French and I hate paying the huge mark up so I also ask anyone coming from France to bring me copies but I always end with Elle Paris cause it's free at CDG airport.

Winnie said...

Ha ha, some people are slightly clueless and I don't think my mom would know the difference either! Also..sure I'll add you to my links!

EvaAmarri said...

Hey Fashion Addict. Are you interested in a career in fashion design? If so then check out my blog for info on a great contest coming up.

Chanel (nbr5) said...

Well, some people are just NOT into fashion, I guess. That's funny about your siblings, hey, at least they're trying right?!

I'm waiting on the historic July 2008 issue of VOGUE Italia. And I'll just have to pay the extra for it!

Got you linked!

heartu,kisses said...

linking you now! plus that pic of tom ford is very nice. he is so good looking.....and well dressed. that shirt is practically unbuttoned down to his belly button ;) i likey!

chauss said...

thnaks for visiting my blog. come back anytime. i'm happy to exchange links with you.

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

I totally get it. While British (or UK) mags are great, I have no idea how to convert the product pricing either! It drives me crazy when I come across something I love, but am clueless as to the cost. I really need to learn various currencies!

aizat.cinta.goddess said...

british vogue is not that bad...lol

i love my mom coz, everytime she outstation to another country..she will bought for me the country's fashion magazine..

i have a few japan vogue..thanx to my mom

Unknown said...

oh i definetly want to link enghange with u, i do it right a way! cool blog! :)

Chloé Van Paris said...

The simple reason people prefer to buy the uk Vogue instead of the Us because it's always the most elegant one.
The us vogue is just so cheap now.

Siljesfashion said...

Haha thats so funny!

chauss said...

your linked. :)

Sarah's Chapter said...

british vogue is so much better than us vogue, but nylon is so much better than both of them!!

yeah sure, I love your blog, I'd love to trade links, just adding you to my blogroll :)

redtomatosauce said...

I am actually haveing a really hard time getting a hold of all the asian fashion magazines! if you are interested we could buy mags for eachother and send them over. I am in california with plenty of US Vogues
That would be soo perfect. you can email me at en60569@ucsc.edu
love your blog!
emily

Grace said...

i will certainly add you to my blogroll! i love your blog. :)

Unknown said...

i prefer actually british magazines, elle,vogue,harpers bazaar,marie claire etc...
instyle in us version is okay

LittleSclicesOfHeaven said...

Your blog is beyond fabulous!! Thanks so much for sharing!! :)

Asi Mod said...

Yeah, foreign magazines are sooo expensive. I looked at Amazon.con and Italian Vogue cost $200/year. Yikes!!

I know what you mean when our siblings don't have the same excitment about fashion as we do. But my brother & best friend are great. They get me subscriptions to all the magazines I want for Christmas & birthday. I don't want anything else. :-)

Anonymous said...

I've only read the US Vogue (and just started a subscription... I don't know what took me so long). I'd be really interested to see what the Japanese Vogue is like. Is it entirely about Japanese fashion? Are all the models asian? I could probably find this out on my own.. but.. I'd rather just ask you. You know, first hand experience and all that. (Oh, and I just discovered you blog today... so.. Hi, I'm Rachel.)