Not so long ago I went into a local press store and I gasped when I saw Sarah Jessica Parker smiling at me from Glamour’s September cover. The same Jessica who was smiling at me at home from Vogue’s USA August cover. Today, I visited a local magazine store and I saw Kristen Stewart covering Nov. Glamour issue, the same Kristen who was covering W  just a few months ago.

WTF?

It is pretty amusing that one single photo can be used so many times by a publishing company. It’s like high fashion photographers were working on a photo stock. Personally – as a globally orientated consumer – I cannot agree with that situation, because I enjoy a variety on a (full of magazines) cyber-shelf. There are many readers like me, who like buying international fashion magazines and they’re very disappointed when covers or even editorials are copied. At the same time, by doing this, publishers lower the symbolic value of their brand. Truly, publishing companies earn so much money –  by selling so much ad space (just look at their statistics!) – that they (IMO) can afford to unique photos and articles.

Here’re some examples of Vogue’s doubled covers (because Vogue’s my favorite magazine). However, we should remember that not only Condé Nast does that.

Sarah Jessica Parker Covers American Vogue, the August Issue and Polish Glamour – the September Issue

Rihanna Covers Vogue USA, later Vogue India

Kasia Struss Covers Vogue Korea, Vogue Portgual, Vogue Hellas. Pic from American Vogue

Karmen Pedaru Covers Vogue Portugal and Vogue Hellas. Pic from Paris Vogue