Flair Founder Gives Up the Ghost at 101 But Leaves Us With the Greatest Fash Mag of All Time

Anyone who whines about the snoozy state of many of today's style pubs is probably an obsessed collector of the '50s magazine Flair. It was short-lived—it lasted just a year—but its gorgeous oversized cut-out covers, fantastical illustrations, and genius content by the likes of Tennessee Williams and W.H. Auden ("The New Expense Account Society," "Miserabilism," and, simply, "The Petal Dress") still resonates today. We were sad to hear its glorious founder Fleur Cowles took her leave this past Friday at 101, but even though her famed comet of a title was said to have hemorrhaged $2.5 million (definitely a lot of dough back then) she leaves behind a legacy of what inspiring fashion magazines once were: A cultural bellwether, not just tracking trends but creating them...and with nary an Angelina in sight. (The New York Times)

Above: Portrait by Jonathan Player for The New York Times

Above: A collection of Flair's iconic covers.