I know I author a design blog, but since I have an abundance of female readers, I thought this fashion-related topic is relevant somehow as I think this is the most beautiful news article I've read in long, long time. And as woman, we care about this sort of thing. Even the men who read this blog may be interested in knowing this... I was moved -- it is quite powerful and sends a very positive message I'll tell you what it is...

Brigitte is a fashion and lifestyle magazine for Woman based in Germany, they have been around for ages... I started reading it when I was in my 20s visiting my husband while we were dating. His mother used to give me copies of it so I could learn more about German life and fashion. Now that I live here, I pick up my copy monthly and have always enjoyed it... but now, I'm just so, so proud of Gruner+Jahr (the publisher) and the magazine in general because they've just announced a radical change for the magazine that will begin in 2010. It will be model-free, at least when it comes to their photo shoots (not advertising of course). You have to read this...

"The Hamburg-based title published by Gruner+Jahr plans to choose from readers who register online and staff members based on their meaningful qualities other than their dress size. Attractiveness has many faces,” editor of the bi-monthly Brigitte Huber said in a statement.

“Whether they are actresses, musicians, first ladies or women on the streets of big cities – they all affect fashion and beauty styles.”

Is this not spine tingling? You can read the full article here.

And while I love Cindy Crawford and Heidi Klum, there is much, much more out there that is beautiful that is not represented and I am excited to see where this exciting new direction takes this publication. I don't mind seeing models in fashion magazines, they are woman too and should not be excluded because of their beauty and no longer featured because they are "model perfect", however I think that having all fashion magazines saturated with such ideal types can really be stressful for young woman and even older woman as it makes the rest of us feel a bit left out. You need the Vogue and the Elle magazines, yes, but you also need diversity on the magazine stand -- you can read Vogue to see "the dream" and you can read a magazine like Brigitte to see the beautiful reality -- you and me -- our life. I like a good mix and so I'm happy about this bold new direction!

One person, on a board I visited over at Brigitte magazine said in response to all of this, "Thank you for allowing women to be women, and showing them for what they've accomplished and who they are as dignified human beings, not as mere superficial bodies."

Amen.

(image: holly becker for decor8)