L'Officiel (French pronunciation: [lɔfisjɛl]; stylised in all caps), full name L'Officiel de la couture et de la mode de Paris ("The Official [publication] of Paris Couture and Fashion"), is a French bimonthly fashion magazine that covers haute couture, ready-to-wear fashion, beauty, culture, design, and jewellery. Under the control of the Jalou family from the 1950s until the 2022 acquisition of Éditions Jalou by Hong Kong–based AMTD, the magazine is now operated through a French subsidiary, The Generation Essentials Group. Since 2010, Vanessa Bellugeon has served as editor-in-chief (fashion), Marie-José Jalou previously served as editor-in-chief from the 1980s until 2002, remaining on as editorial director of the title until 2022.
Based in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, L'Officiel began publication in 1921 as the official publication of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne.
L'Officiel USA, launched in 1976, as the first international edition. As of 2026, there are 21 international editions, including a region-specific edition for the French Alps and Riviera. Eleven of these editions are published by or in co-operation with L'Officiel (L'Officiel Canada, 时装 L'Officiel China, L'Officiel Davos, L'Officiel Hong Kong, L'Officiel Italia, L'Officiel Japan, L'Officiel Malaysia, L'Officiel Philippines, L'Officiel Singapore, 时装 L'Officiel Singapore, L'Officiel USA). The other ten editions are published under licence. A men's edition of the magazine, L'Officiel Hommes, began publication in 1977. L'Officiel Art was in print from 2012 to 2020, and has since transitioned to a digital-only format.
Contents
Background
L'Officiel is a French fashion magazine founded in 1921 by Amédée-Martin Brunhes as L'Officiel de la Couture et de la Mode (till late 1921, then as L'Officiel de la Couture, de la Mode et de la Confection till 1923, as L'Officiel de la Couture, de la Mode de Paris till 1935, as L'Officiel de la Couture et de la Mode de Paris till 2020, as L'Officiel since 2020/2021; with the secondary title Official Fashions from 1924 to 1926), it is the oldest fashion magazine of French origin in publication.
The magazine is a bimonthly publication, published seven times per year for February/March, April/May, June/July, September, November, December/January, alongside a special issue for summer.
Founded as the official publication of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, the magazine's slogan is 'The Official Voice of Fashion' (in French 'la voix officielle de la mode'). L'Officiel was owned by the Brunhes family from 1921 to the mid-1950s when it then came under the control of the Jalou family, the Jalou family sold the magazine and their publishing house Éditions Jalou in 2022 to AMTD. Since 2025, L'Officiel is under the control of AMTD subsidiary The Generation Essentials Group. The magazine is considered an international rival of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar and has been called the doyenne of French fashion magazines.
Editors
French publications usually have multiple editors for different sections of the magazine, in the case of L'Officiel they are listed below. However, as of 2026 Vanessa Bellugeon is the only Editor-in-Chief at the publication.
History
The Beginnings of L'Officiel (1921–1938)
L'Officiel was first published on 20 July 1921, founded by Amédée-Martin Brunhes it was the official publication of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. The Chambre Syndicale de la Couture (commonly referred to as “the Chamber”) was founded in 1868 by Charles Frederick Worth as a trade body representing all Parisian couturiers. L'Officiel assumed the role of the previous official publication of the Chamber, Les Elégances Parisiennes. During this period the magazine was directed principally at international buyers of high fashion, both corporate and individual, and those working within the fashion industry; it was published in French, English, and Spanish. Within the first issue Brunhes stated the magazine was to be a “technical and corporative organ” to overcome the “indolence and incompetence of the Public Powers, who disregard one of the richest sources of national wealth [referring to the couture industry].” Couturiers such as Paul Poiret would have the magazine delivered to their offices for inspiration, later fashion designers including Jean Paul Gaultier would take inspiration from vintage and contemporary issues of the magazine. Poiret, Louise Chéruit, and Jean Patou featured in interviews within the first and second issues. In May 1926, Edouard Max Brunhes (son of Amédée-Martin) was named co-director of the publication. In 1928, Edouard Max acquired the publishing company of L'Officiel, Éditions Brunhes. Edouard Max proclaimed that “L'Officiel should be known in the entire world, that it should demonstrate the unequalled quality of French production and creation,”.
From the mid-1920s illustrators Léon Benigni, S. Chompré, and Pierre-Armand Covillot, defined the visual aesthetics of the publication. In 1927, Jean Dunand was the first artist to create a graphically treated cover layout for the magazine. Pierre-Armand Covillot would become primary cover layout designer, noted for his style that mirrored the Art Deco movement.
Benigni would illustrate over a hundred covers for the magazine. From the late 1920s through to the 1930s, Austrian photographer Madame d'Ora worked for the magazine on contract and served as the primary photographer. d'Ora would shoot over eighty covers for the magazine. Through the 1930s and 1940s the Frères Séeberger were regular contributors to the magazine.
In 1932, Georges Jalou was hired as art director and Marcel G. Pérès hired to improve sales and advertising. L'Officiel publisher, Edouard Max Brunhes would die in 1933 and his widow entrusted the magazine to his principal collaborator, Andrée Castanié.
World War II and Post-War (1939–1969)
L'Officiel was the one of the only fashion magazines to continue publication during the German occupation of France. Other notable publications such as Fémina, Jardin des Modes, and Vogue Paris all suspended publication. L'Officiel obtained a license to publish from authorities in February 1941, it was suspended in May 1941 and again in May 1942. The 1942 suspension was due to an editorial report about fashion shows organised by Lucien Lelong occurring in the Zone libre. Castanié was a member of the French Resistance, helping Allied soldiers escape from Nazi forces. President Eisenhower of the United States would personally thank Castanié for her aid. During wartime publication covers often featured the French national colours of blue, white, and red in support of the resistance. The magazine did not suffer repercussions as art director Georges Jalou would inform authorities that they were “the colours of the season”. Colette would contribute to the magazine from 1941 to 1942.
Post-war, Christian Dior would dub the magazine “the bible of female fashion” and it continued to fulfil the role of showcasing French fashion to professional buyers around the world.
In 1946, L'Officiel launched Chapeaux de Paris, a sister publication focused on millinery. In 1955 it was renamed Actualité Couture-Chapeaux de Paris due to an increasing focus on French ready-to-wear.
Georges Jalou was appointed editor-in-chief of L'Officiel in 1947. Under his leadership the magazine would help to start the careers of designers such as Pierre Balmain, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, and Yves St. Laurent, becoming known as “the Bible of fashion and of high society”. Philippe Pottier would join the magazine as photographer and fashion editor, contributing to the publication for twenty-five years.
In 1956, according to Mary Brooks Picken L'Officiel was the most popular couture magazine worldwide and the leading publication of French fashion publishing. Jacques de Lacretelle and Irène Lidova contributed to the magazine during this period.
Throughout the 1960s starlets such as Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, and Sylvie Vartan had their first editorial photos for the magazine.
Jalou-Pérès acquisition and dual ownership (1969–1984)
Following the death of Andrée Castanieé in 1969, Georges Jalou and Marcel G. Pérès acquired the magazine. Under the ownership of Jalou and Pérès, the magazine began to adopt “the aesthetic and editorial codes of high-end feminine fashion” moving away from the previous style catering to the industry and industry professionals. Entering into the 1970s photographers such as Roland Bianchini and Jean-Louis Guégan defined the visual language of the magazine alongside contributions from creatives such as Jicky Dussart.
An entire issue was dedicated to the creations of Pierre Cardin in 1972. The following year an issue would be dedicated to the rise of ready-to-wear fashion and advancements in the ready-to-wear industry, including the achievements of textile factories and companies such as Bucol, Dormeuil, Armand Hallenstein, and Leonard.
The first editorial photoshoot of Isabelle Adjani was published in the December 1974 issue. At age fifteen she posed wearing only a fur coat and jewellery.
The mens edition of L'Officiel, L'Officiel Hommes launched in November 1976. At the time L'Officiel Hommes featured more diverse coverage of age, nationality, and careers than L'Officiel. The magazine ceased publication in 1991, relaunching in 1996 as L'Officiel Homme. Following a publishing rights dispute L'Officiel Homme rebranded to L'Optimum in 1998. In 2005 the magazine relaunched and has remained in operation since.
French sociologist Bruno Latour contributed a noted essay on patriarchy (“La fin du pouvoir mâle”; transl. The end of male power) for the March 1979 issue.
Under Éditions Jalou: International expansion, bankruptcy, and sale to AMTD (1984–2022)
Following the death of Marcel Pérès, Jalou inherited sole ownership of the magazine and created the Éditions Jalou publishing house. In 1986, Jalou transferred the publishing house to his three children; Laurent Jalou became the president, Marie-José Jalou directed the editorial content, and Maxime Jalou served as artistic director.
From 1993 to 1996, American photographer Francesco Scavullo became a contributing photographer. He photographed Claudia Schiffer, Karen Mulder, Meghan Douglas, and Shalom Harlow among others for the magazine.
For the 800th issue/75th anniversary issue in November 1995 prominent writers including Frédéric Dard, Françoise Giroud, Régine Deforges, and Amélie Nothomb, were invited to contribute pieces about fashion history based upon previous issues of the magazine. Previous interviews with Jean Cocteau, Colette, Paul Poiret, Marcel Rochas, and Yves Saint Laurent were reprinted within the issue. Also in 1995 the "Generation X" editorial feature was published, a photo-story by Laurence Benaïm it reported on the fashion and culture of Parisian drag queens.
As of 1998 the average issue circulation of L'Officiel was 96,578.
Laurent Jalou passed away in 2003, Marie-José became president and stepped down from her role as Editor-in-Chief of L'Officiel, restructuring the editorial content to target a younger audience. In the early 2000s, Michel Mallard Studio would overhaul the art direction of the magazine.
In 2005 the L'Officiel archive was launched online, becoming the first free-access online fashion magazine archive. Gérard Chevalier oversaw the development and the completion of the archive, beginning in 2003.
Controversy erupted in 2011 over a cover featuring American singer Beyoncé in blackface and traditional African tribal makeup. The magazine responded stating that the makeup was in honour of Fela Kuti and “a return to her [Beyoncé's] African roots.” Jezebel writer Dodai Stewart critisticed the editorial, “It's fun to play with fashion and makeup, and fashion has a history of provocation and pushing boundaries. But when you paint your face darker in order to look more 'African,' aren't you reducing an entire continent, full of different nations, tribes, cultures and histories, into one brown color?” The stylist and creative director responding that “It was paying homage to African queens.”
Post-acquisition and contemporary (2022–present)
L'Officiel Inc. SAS, Éditions Jalou, and associated companies were sold to AMTD International (subsidiary of Hong Kong-based AMTD Group) in April 2022. The Jalou family contributed to magazine until the legal case against AMTD, they retain ownership of L'Officiel Riviera in a partnership with Philippe Combres, Combres also owns L'Officiel St. Barth. Following the purchase, AMTD announced intentions to expand and establish the presence of the magazine to new regions around the world.
In 2023, L'Officiel Singapore and L'Officiel Malaysia were brought under direct ownership and management. In August 2023, L'Officiel Philippines was brought under direct ownership.
In 2023 L'Officiel was reorganised to become part of AMTD World Media and Entertainment Group (WME). In 2025 a de-SPAC transaction occurred with a company backed by Lawrence Ho, which saw the creation of a new parent The Generation Essentials Group (TGE), publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. On the IPO day L'Officiel hosted the first fashion show on the NYSE trading floor.
In 2026, the Jalou family accused AMTD of "trademark infringement, tax fraud, and misuse of corporate assets," and according to The Times the new owners are "fraudulently running the publication into the ground". AMTD has been accused of running a financial scheme that aims to squander the assets of the French company, profiting from the brand without the French entity receiving any profit. Primarily through foreign subsidiaries registered in the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. The stripping of assets from the French company is in direct violation of the 2015 recovery plan following Éditions Jalou's bankruptcy that prohibits the sale or transfer of the business and its brands. The photographic archives of L'Officiel are also reported to be missing. The Jalou family has not received all money from the 2022 sale with proceeds frozen in a Hong Kong bank account owned by the brokerage firm of AMTD. Former CEO, Benjamin Eymère (and member of the Jalou family) launched legal proceedings against the company for unfair dismissal, seeking whistleblower status (that was denied by the labour court). The Paris police judiciary have opened an investigation into the financial operations of the magazine following a 2025 complaint.
Marie-José Jalou said she believed that AMTD was trying to deprive the original French publication of its assets and revenue whilst using its renown to construct an international brand, stating “L’Officiel was the fashion bible. I will never give up on it.”
Noteworthy covers
20 July 1921: First issue, depicting two French nobles on a walk through a forest
15 September 1921: First photograph cover, photo by Delphi
May 1929: Elsa Schiaparelli, first cover featuring a designer
October 1945: First cover illustrated by Eduardo García Benito
No.301/302 1947: First cover illustrated by René Grau
December 1960: Wilhelmina Cooper's first magazine cover
April 1968: Alexandra Stewart, first actress on the cover
June 1970: Sandi Collins, first black model on the cover; alongside uncredited French model
September 1971: Pat Cleveland, first black model solo cover
February 1974: Jane Birkin, first singer on the cover
June 1977: Masako Natsume, first Asian woman on the cover
November 1984: Linda Evangelista's first magazine cover
December 1990/January 1991: Gianni Versace, first cover featuring a male designer
February 2003: Raquel Zimmermann, photographed by Nick Knight
March 2011: Beyoncé, first black singer on the cover
October 2013: Cast of 'Opium', photo by Karl Lagerfeld
Editions
L'Officiel has 21 international editions, including a region-specific edition for the French Alps and Riviera. A men's edition L'Officiel Hommes was first published in 1977 and continuously since 2005. L'Officiel Art was launched in 2012 and then as a themed issue of L'Officiel from 2021 to 2023, it now operates as a digital-only publication.
Spin-off titles of the magazine that are no longer published include L'Officiel 1000 Modèles/L'Officiel Accessories (1996–2019), L'Officiel Chirugie Esthétique (1996–2019), L'Officiel 1000 Modèles Design (2003–2018), L'Officiel Voyage (2005–2019), L'Officiel Business (2007), L'Officiel Intérieur (2008), L'Officiel l'Intégrale 5000 Modèles/L'Officiel Fashion Week (2011–2019), L'Officiel New Talents (2012), L'Officiel l'Intégrale Luxe (2012–2015), L'Officiel Shopping/L'Officiel Paris Guide (launched in 2012), and L'Officiel Beauté (2013).
The magazine's first supplement was launched in the 1920s and was known as L'Industrie Française du Vêtement Féminine. Foreign editions in Brazil, Italy and the Middle East all had original print runs in the 1970s, these editions were closed down but later relaunched. From 1984 to c. 1990, ياسمين Yasmine L'Officiel was published from Paris. The magazine was published in Arabic by Al Mostakbal and distributed across Europe and the Middle East. The editorial team was staffed primarily by Lebanese journalists, who were escaping the Lebanese Civil War. Kamal Sinno served as editor and Ismat Shanbour as art director. Shanbour revolutionised the art direction of Arabic-language magazines and notably redesigned Al Hawadeth. L'Officiel En Español was briefly published from Buenos Aires, Argentina, it began publication in 1980 under the direction of María Eugenia Eyras.
Currently L'Officiel directly owns and operates eleven editions L'Officiel Canada, 时装 L'Officiel China (in co-operation with Fashion Publishing), L'Officiel Hong Kong, L'Officiel Italia, L'Officiel Japan, L'Officiel Malaysia, L'Officiel Paris, L'Officiel Philippines, L'Officiel Singapore 时装 L'Officiel Singapore, and L'Officiel USA. A special edition for the World Economic Forum titled L'Officiel Davos has been published since 2023. As of 2026 a Taiwanese edition is set to launch and editions in Australia and Mexico are planned to relaunch in the near future. They also own and operate La Revue des Montres in France, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. La Revue des Montres is planned to be launched in Vietnam and Japan.
时装 L'Officiel China
L'Officiel was the first international fashion magazine to launch in China, launching in April 1987, however this edition ceased publication in 1990.
The magazine was relaunched in 2002 as 魅力 L'Officiel 中文版 and was operated by NCN (Hong Kong branch) under licence, the magazine was based in Hong Kong. However it closed the same year.
In 1980 时装 (Fashion) was founded and by the mid-1980s had almost reached a circulation of 300,000. From late 2003 the magazine was rebranded to 时装 L'Officiel after an agreement was made with Éditions Jalou and with this the magazine became distributed in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The magazine is based in Beijing. As of 2021 L'Officiel China had a circulation of 839,000.
L'Officiel Hong Kong
L'Officiel entered the Hong Kong market in 2002 with the launch of 魅力 L'Officiel, the Chinese edition of L'Officiel. 魅力 L'Officiel was based out of Hong Kong, however, it would cease publication within the year. 时装 L'Officiel China was distributed in Hong Kong from its launch in 2003.
The Hong Kong edition of L'Officiel, entitled L'Officiel Hong Kong SAR launched on digital platforms in November 2023 and entered print in March 2024. Katherine Ho (previously of Vogue Hong Kong) was appointed editor-in-chief. After four issues in-print, the vast majority of the editorial staff were laid off. Following that, the company underwent a restructuring. Angel Fong was appointed editor-in-chief in 2025.
In 2026, the magazine alongside The Art Newspaper Hong Kong was designated as a media partner for the "Art in Resonance" programme of The Peninsula Hong Kong.
L'Officiel Italia
L'Officiel Italia was published for a brief period in the 1970s and agin in the 1990s. In 2009, the Italian edition L'Officiel Hommes was launched and in September 2012 L'Officiel Italia was relaunched with Carlo Mazzoni as Editor-in-Chief.
L'Officiel Japan
In 1973, Japanese translations were included in the original French edition. In 2005 the Japanese edition L'Officiel Japon was launched. It ceased publication in 2008. In October 2015 L'Officiel Japan re-launched with Tetsuya Mabuchi as publisher and Naoko Kikuchi as editor-in-chief it was published in a co-operation between Éditions Jalou and Seven & I Publishing. The magazine ceased publication in December 2016, but the last issue was January/February 2017.
In early 2020 it was reported that within two years a Japanese edition was aiming to be launched along with editions for Australia, Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The same was confirmed about a Japanese edition in late 2022.
WWD Japan reported in May 2024 that the magazine would relaunch in September with Takafumi Kawasaki as its Editor-in-Chief, he previously worked for L'Uomo Vogue and GQ Japan. The magazine relaunched in September with Rie Miyazawa on the cover.
L'Officiel USA
L'Officiel USA (stylised as L'Officiel/U.S.A.) was launched in 1976 as one of the first international editions of the magazine, The magazine was edited by Dorothy Coleman Seeman, however, in 1979 she was replaced by Himilce Novas whom had been called "terrific" by Diana Vreeland. Prior to the 1976 launch of L'Officiel USA, an imported version of Parisian L'Officiel with accompanying English translations was printed for the United States from April 1946. L'Officiel/U.S.A. ceased publication with the August 1980 issue.
In 2017, L'Officiel USA re-launched on digital platforms led by Joseph Akel, the first print edition was released in February 2018. The magazine is based in New York City. Peter Davis, replaced Akel as editor-in-chief in 2019. Davis would exit the magazine at the end of 2020.
After the role of editor was left vacant for nearly two years, Caroline Grosso was appointed editor-in-chief of L'Officiel USA in August 2022.