Britain’s first radical fashion magazine, Nova’s cultural impact lasted longer than its published issues.
With its first issue releasing in 1965, and the Nova team operating from Covent Garden, it was a magazine oriented towards the thinking female. It challenged traditional views with the slogan, ‘A new kind of magazine for a new kind of woman,’ which initially resulted in poor sales due to claims it was too radical and experimental.
Art director Harri Peccinotti established the Nova style, which set the standard for high-quality photography, graphics, illustration, and typography. Nova’s conception was to provide an alternative to traditional women’s magazines. The combination of daring and artistic imagery with issues of race, gender, sexuality, and individual rights is what led the publication to success.
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In the mid-70s, Nova readers were no longer in the mood for its carefree conceits. Increasing competition from magazines such as Cosmopolitan, which published its first UK issue in 1972, meant Nova began to shrink. By 1975, the circulation figures of Nova were half of what they were 10 years earlier. Nova had no choice but to fold.
Through Nova magazine, we are able to track the rapid changes that society was undergoing during the 60s and 70s. Its spirit and influence continue to be with us, as its impeccable detail of the changes in style and technique during this era, solidify the magazine’s name in history.
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Nova magazine was reborn in May 2000, but unfortunately only lasted 11 issues before closing again in June 2001. After disappearing for 25 years, the attempt to bring Nova back to the newsstands was made by editor-in-chief Deborah Bee and was positioned as an edgy, fashion-based lifestyle magazine. With continuing competition against titles like Marie Claire and Woman’s Weekly, it performed poorly in sales and closed again due to lack of public interest.
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