By This past summer, media company Conde Nast announced the online launch of Vogue Arabia. Following a digital-first model, official content started rolling out on their website on Oct. 24, 2016. Balancing the titles of editor-in-chief and her royal highness, Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz has quite the responsibility.
“This job is not without its challenges,” she said. “It only really dawned on me after the appointment that this won’t just be me doing something I love, but is also a massive responsibility.”
But so far, Vogue Arabia has been achieving the perfect balance between fashion and religious regional codes. And we’re in love!
1. The Arabian A-Z Directory
A typical fashion magazine content filler is a directory. There’s been lists of models, spring fashion trends and even city-by-city guides all curated by an editorial team. We love the start of Vogue Arabia’s; their beauty themed one starts off with “A for Argan Oil.” Read about all the benefits this Arab beauty secret comes with here.
2. Intros to the Arab World’s ‘It Girls’
Vogue is known for finding and promoting fresh young talent. This is no different with Arabia’s. This past week, we were introduced to Moroccan fashion model Rania Benchegra, fashion blogger sister-duo The Abduls and style muse and boutique-owner Sarah Al Wazzan
3. Umm…Modest Fashion Inspiration
We always want style inspiration, and what better authority to get it from? Here’s ‘hair under your hijab’ tips, the top fall abaya trends and street style roundups — the Vogue way.
4. Videos Featuring Our Faves
Watch Gigi Hadid introduce herself in Arabic and talk about her Tommy Hilfiger collection. Then watch fashion designer Elie Saab make up for Gigi’s lackluster Arabic as he expresses his excitement for the website’s launch in beautiful Beirut. And then ‘anotha one’ — watch DJ Khaled congratulate Editor-in-Chief Deena in typical DJ Khaled style.
5. Original Thought Pieces
One of the stories I read on the website was a Saudi’s woman battle with breast cancer. The article notes how in Saudi, how diseases like breast cancer scared people, eyes averted from breast cancer awareness ads, families kept quiet about those who had it. Articles like this encourages women to not keep quiet and to seek medical attention. Empowering women’s voices and getting rid of cultural taboos — that’s a movement Muslim Girl can totally get behind.
Vogue Arabia will not be limited to our laptops and smart phones. Conde Nast had also announced a print version, 11 issues a year — all produced by Abdulaziz’s 25-member editorial team. Come spring 2017, the first of these print issues will undergo distribution. Content like this in print? All we’re debating is who the first cover girl should be. Welcome, Vogue Arabia! We’ve been waiting.