Vanity, What Happened to Victoria Magazine?

[Lauratealeaf]

I discovered today that Victoria Magazine ceased publication last June. I always enjoyed it very much and never missed an issue. I have been looking for it at bookstores for quite some time but with my busy life just thought the stores here didn't carry it. It was the only magazine besides the Weekly Standard that I was interested in buying. Not political at all and definitely not a feminist magazine. I bet there are some freepers who may also miss it and might have more information about the reasons why it no longer is published.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL, it says, February.

[Alberta's Child]

Oh. You sure about that?

;-)

[Alkhin]

I rather gave up on Victoria magazine towards the late 90s because their focus became more about features of various shoppes and services and weddings of people I didnt know for some vague connection to Victorian living...The magazine used to have an EXCELLENT section on Victorian influenced fashions that I "devoured" because the styles they formulated for the subscribers were very much the styles I always tried to emulate. Laura Ashley figured big time, but also lesser known retailers/fashion designers. Victoria magazine was instrumental in helping me find Amazon Dry Goods, which sells period patterns and clothing and items. But because our society has "gone casual" in practically every aspect of life now, I have seen such wonderful businesses like Laura Ashley completely forsake its fashion credibility and Victoria magazine had nothing better to offer in the way of fashion uniqueness than the same kind of crap I could find in Old Navy. It was disgusting.

I miss the old days of true Victorian influence and fashion.

One can try "Victorian Papers." It is known for selling Victorian stationary and cards, but there is also a very nice gift and accessory catalogue they sell with really nice items like the crochet lace gloves, lace collars, filmy blouses, beautiful hats and other things.

[Capriole]

You're so funny, you sound like me. In the seventies and eighties I used to love wearing the early Ralph Lauren clothes, which bore real lace on the sleeves and featured long velvet skirts that I paired with my tweed ratcatcher jackets. But I finally gave up on trying to sneak a little costume-y type clothing into my regular life; it didn't let me present myself as a serious person in the world of business. Instead I went completely over to the other side. I became an historic reenactor and now devote quite a bit of time to doing research on the details of the clothing of the Victorian era. I have some of this clothing made by a seamstress for wear at reenactments and living history events, while I make other gowns myself. Believe me, if there's a part of you that longs for grace, charm, elegance, and beauty in your attire, there is nothing that can match the pleasure of putting a silk gown over layered petticoats, affixing a precious antique cameo to your throat, and dancing with dashing gentlemen at a circa 1860 ball. Try it, you'll like it.

[HetLoo]

LOL, it took several months for the dedicate readers to notice, well, I USED to be a dedicated reader and it took me 3 years to finally remember to do a google search to find out what happened to it... And guess what turns up??? freerepublic. What other site do you need?

Count me in the pre-2001 readers. They totally switched format in 2001, new editor, the works. AND they had the audacity to ad a Horrorscope column, well, I sent them a letter letting them know just how I felt (betrayed for starters) and actually got a personal letter back from the editor thanking me for my comments (yes, I said "betrayed nicely") but that was definitily the beginning of the end. I don't think I bought a single issue after the horoscope showed up.

Oh well, that's my rambling post for the evening. I miss Victoria for the same reasons everybody else does. It was truely special. Thank goodness i have lots of old issues around to 'get my fix'. classic Victoria is timeless - which is exactly why this three year late post is not a bit out of date ;-)

[Lauratealeaf]

It's been quite a few years since I posted here but I still lurk when I'm not blogging. I clicked on this thread wondering who was posting again about Victoria Magazine and had forgotten that I posted this three years ago. I guess I got punked by myself. Ha!

[Wedsinger]

I am one of those dedicated Victoria readers...my collection dates back to 1989!I was looking through my old Victoria magazines tonight, and wondered if they were still publishing new ones. Got online and couldn't find anything except adds for the magazines on e-bay...Hmmm...not a good sign! I only found this link, and people who felt the same exact way I did, even years ago. I too was disappointed when Nancy Lindemeyer suddenly was replaced by a new editor, who seemed to change the magazine for the worse...Too bad it didn't make it, but I also stopped buying it and thought about writing in. Actually, I DID write a note saying WHY I would not renew on my RENEWAL notice, but don't think it got NOTICED! Haven't found a decent replacement since. Bummer.

[stitcher]

I just found out about Victoria. It was inevitable - to those of us who read it from the beginning, it became too repetative.
I liked some of their recipes and I wonder if you or someone else out there can help me find a lost favorite. In the early 80's, they printed a recipe for cool cucumber soup which called for 8-10 cucumbers. At the time we had a vegetable garden that was very prolific, so I made the soup and loved it. Because it was just a clipping, I lost it. Can you help? It was a spring or summer issue because I remember making it for friends that were visiting.

[kansasjayhawk12]

Your question about Victoria Magazine was posted several years ago. I also loved this magazine and missed it sorely. Today (May 12, 2008) I stumbled on a site for Victoria Magazine!!! They started publishing it again as of Nov/Dec of 2007 and I immediately subscribed. I am so excited and even called and spoke with a customer service rep and she claimed the magazine has a different publisher but has tried to remain true to the past. Can’t wait to get my first issue. Hopefully it will be around for a long time - such a beautiful, serene, joyful magazine.