Product Code Database
Elle (; ; stylised in all caps), is a French weekly lifestyle magazine. It offers a mixture of fashion, beauty, and general lifestyle content. It has been published in Paris since its 1945 founding by Hélène Gordon-Lazareff.
The magazine has a global audience reach of over 250 million people monthly, 50 international editions, and spin-off publications such as Elle Décoration, Elle Men, and Elle à Table. The magazine is considered "one of the world's largest fashion and lifestyle publications".
| + Total paid circulation (average) | Year !2016 !2017 !2018 !2019 !2020 !2021 !2022 !2023 !2024 |
| Hélène Gordon-Lazareff | 1945 | 1972 |
| 1978 | 1982 | |
| Anne-Marie Périer | 2002 | |
| Valerie Toranian | 2002 | 2014 |
| 2014 | 2016 | |
| Erin Doherty | 2016 | 2021 |
| 2021 | present |
In the Elle articles featuring rising fashion designers, the magazine would provide free patterns of some of their fashion pieces. This allowed the general public to experience haute couture as the glamour of the fashion world was becoming accessible to the common working class.
Its 100th issue, published on 14 October 1947, featured the work of Christian Dior just eight months after his debut show. Likewise, Brigitte Bardot had her first Elle cover at age 17, on 7 January 1952, months before her screen debut in Manina, the Girl in the Bikini.
On 2 April 1956, Grace Kelly appeared on the cover of Elle France, a few days before her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. On 16 July 1956, Elle France featured Marilyn Monroe on the cover.
By the 1960s, Elle had a readership of 800,000 across France and was said to "not so much reflect fashion as decree it." This dominance was reflected in the famous slogan: "Si elle lit elle lit Elle (If she reads, she reads Elle)" ( "If she reads she reads She").
In 1987, Elle Decoration was launched in France by the Lagardère Group.
In 1995, the magazine circulated 5 million copies worldwide.
In 2011, Hearst Corporation reached a €651M deal with Lagardère to purchase the rights to publish Elle Magazine in fifteen countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Ukraine. Lagardère, which struggled in the international market in the 2000s, retained the rights to the French edition and would collect royalties from the international editions. By retaining ownership of the Elle brand in France and through licensing forms in 25 countries, Lagardère remained "the guarantor of brand consistency". The strategic decisions on Elle concerning the countries managed by Hearst would be "taken in close consultation" with Lagardère.
In April 2018, Lagardère sold Elle France to Daniel Křetínský via his holding company, Czech Media Invest (CMI), parent of Czech News Center. Lagardère, as a subsidiary of Bolloré family-owned Louis Hachette Group, continues to own the Elle brand in France and internationally by granting a "license for the exploitation of magazines".
At the end of 2021, Elle announced that all global editions would ban fur from their pages as of 1 January 2023, citing "a really great opportunity to increase awareness for animal welfare, bolster the demand for sustainable and innovative alternatives and foster a more humane fashion industry."
Elle has published articles on combating gender inequality, showcasing influential women and advocating for equal pay and opportunities within the workplace. One notable edition was its "Women in Politics" issue, which shone a spotlight on female politicians worldwide. Elle has consistently raised awareness of women's health and reproductive rights. The magazine covered the global struggles for access to safe abortion services, notably in the U.S. following legislative changes. Elle
In 2025, Elle announced in Italy the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nomination for the sociologist Porpora Marcasciano (first transgender individual in history to be nominated to the prize), nominated by Dr. Tiziano Peccia.
Elle also publishes region-specific editions within or across countries, such as Elle Hong Kong and Elle Québec, published in addition to Elle China and Elle Canada respectively. In Belgium since 2003, Elle is published as Elle Belgique (in French and for Wallonia) and Elle België (in Dutch for Flanders). Elle Baltic was launched in 2026 for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Elle Middle East was launched in 2006 across the Middle East with Elle Oriental (published in Arabic and French for Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Maghreb). The two publications were later rebranded into Elle Arabia and the French edition was dropped.
In 1985, the American and British editions were launched both featuring Yasmin Le Bon on their respective inaugural issues. The American edition was jointly owned by Hachette and News Groups Publications (owned by Rupert Murdoch). The following year Elle España was launched.
In 1987 editions launched for Italy and Hong Kong. Italian Elle would move from a monthly to weekly release schedule in 2018. Editions for China, Greece, Germany, and Sweden in 1988. In 1989 editions were launched for Quebec, The Netherlands and Switzerland.
In 1990 Elle Taiwan began publication.
Elle Korea was launched in November 1992. A year later, in 1993, Elle Singapore was launched. In 1994, Mexican, Argentine, Thai, Polish, and Czech editions were launched.
Elle India and Elle South Africa launched in 1996. Romanian and Norwegian editions launched the following year. An edition for Turkey launched in 1999.
Elle Hungary and Elle Ukraine were launched in 2001. In 2002, a Croatian edition was launched. A Belgian edition launched in 2003, available in Dutch and French.
Bulgarian, Serbian, and Slovenian editions launched in 2005. Danish and Indonesian editions launched in 2008.
In 2012, Elle Lebanon was launched; however, it was quickly folded into Elle Oriental. A Kazakh edition began publication in February 2015.
Elle Lithuania launched in February 2024, the magazine is published by the team who previously published L'Officiel Lithuania from 2010 till its closure in 2023. Elle Luxembourg began in September 2024.
In January 2026, Elle Baltic was launched.
It was the first commercial magazine in the world to have a transgender model on its cover, with Lea T in December 2011. The Brazilian edition had also discovered transgender model Valentina Sampaio and had put her on the cover before French Vogue.
In 2020, the Toronto branch offices were closed and the magazine continued publication from Montreal.
Elle.com was launched in 2007.
In September 2017, it was announced that Roberta Myers was stepping down from the role of editor-in-chief of Elle USA, position she held since 2000, stating through a memo to the staff that "I want to spend the next seasons as available to my children as I can be, and so I take my leave of Elle now". A day later of the announcement, it was reported that Nina Garcia, creative director of Marie Claire was appointed as the new editor-in-chief effective 18 September.
Nissan and Elle collaborated and unveiled the Nissan Micra in September 2012, a limited-edition car specially designed for women.
The brand has also been launched in the hospitality industry. In 2023, the fashion magazine opened its first hotel, Maison Elle, on the 17th of Paris. Other Elle Hotel projects have been announced for Mexico and around fifteen high-end hotels in the heart of cities that would open in the next ten years.
In June 2024, an article from Elle Decor announced the launch of the media brand's first residential tower located in Miami.
|
|
