Company Magazine The Reader Issue...Starring You!

Over the last couple of years Company magazine has gone from strength to strength. It is no longer that beige magazine that jostled for position on the shelf racks alongside Cosmopolitan and Glamour. After launching the magnificent High Street Edit last year to much aplomb, Company is now up there with the heavyweights pulling punches. I came across the May issue of Company yesterday while doing my weekly shop at Sainsburys and it immediately caught my eye not just for the fresh design but for the special Reader Issue. Company launched the idea of a model free issue three years ago as a way of featuring women with realistic body shapes. They have joined forces with River Island to create the Company Casting Call where 12 readers where chosen out of thousands to model in the publication wearing clothes from River Island. Two were even chosen for the cover with the winner featured inside in a cover spread. T4 presenter, Jameela Jamil writes a fabulous first person story encouraging young women to embrace their differences as she recounts on her painful childhood when she was bullied. This was a really inspiring piece that will resonate with lots of young girls out there, it certainly did with me. There is a feature on three women who are holding down several jobs in order to survive the economic climate and I am not just talking about domestic jobs either. For instance one lady is working as a teacher, singer, songwriter and journalist. Talk about keeping busy.

The Reader Issue also contains an intriguing piece on the how your birth order can effect your relationship. Also a quirky story featuring three guys discussing their girlfriend"s wardrobe and telling us what they think of it. Of course there are the odd celebrity interviews with Gossip Girl's, Leighton Meester, a short Q&A with Katy B, an intimate interview with Robert Pattinson and Jennifer Lopez is featured discussing beauty. My favourite piece is the interiors section where handbag designer, Hannah Griffiths show us round her like retro-kitsch flat which is simply to die for. Overall, Company The Reader Issue is a very sweet deal and it is really lovely to see readers being featured in stylish but yet genuine way. Next month is all about festivals as in which ones to go to, which artists to see and more importantly what the hell to wear. Now I am not a festivals person but must admit that the issue sounds appealing. With their new mobile site and their app for iPads, Company is certainly on fire.

Company: The Reader Issue...Starring You! is available to buy in the shops now.

Company High-Street Edit

While doing my weekly shop for food as well as magazines I came across this little beauty staring at me on the racks. I immediately snapped it up; as a mag junkie I am usually up on the new magazine launches but this one must have passed me by. I must be slipping and it is time to address that. Company High-Street Edit is a bi-annual spin off magazine from Company which focuses on high street fashion. The publication is quarterly and is edited by Victoria White who also heads Company and the ethos is to keep fashion lovers abreast of all the latest trends and more importantly where they can get their hands on them first. Company High-Street Edit is packed with fantastic features and stories but there are a few that really stand out for me. In Store Now which is a 14 page feature where PRs from stores such as River Island, Mango, Next and H&M present their spring and summer collection. A World of Fashion is a piece where the coolest designers from Australia, France, USA and Scandinavia are featured. To Clog, or not to Clog features fab bloggers such as Susie Bubble, Liberty London Girl, Ana Kinsella from Ripped Knees and Disney Roller Girl and quizzes them about blogging and fashion. Beauty Confidential is where beauty PRs from brands like Rimmel, Maybelline New York and Revlon give us an insight into the season's new looks. The New Fashion IT List is the result of a poll that was taken out on company.co.uk where readers voted for their fashion stars. The likes of Olivia Palermo, Whitney Port, Paloma Faith and Taylor Momsen are listed.

The publication does have a slight sales feel because it is very PR driven and therefore you feel that you are being sold to, however Company High-Street Edit gets away with this because of the creative way that the stories are presented. The look of the magazine is quite funky and it has a real scrapbook feel; I also love the recycled matt paper that the inside pages are printed on. A few bloggers have described it as a high street version of Elle Collections. As a lady who no longer has the time and desire to hit the shops I find this magazine totally essential because I can see what new fashion items are out and make my purchasing decisions then and there. So as well as my little mate asos.com giving me what I need it is really nice to know that I have options - Rachel Zoe eat your heart out. Moreover with The Look Show that took place in February it seems that the British high street can do no wrong. Company magazine has been struggling for a while now but this new edition might be just the thing to get them back on track. I can't wait to till September when the next issue comes out.