Exploring the Archive: The Face Magazine
Looking at references in their original form
I’ve always been a print person. Anytime I’m starting a new project, be it interiors, creative concepts, or design, I love going to old magazines, vintage books, random ads I’ve torn out and saved for no clear reason for inspiration. There’s something about looking at references in their original form that is endlessly fascinating. The colors are weirder, the layouts are less predictable, and nothing feels over-mined or overly familiar.
It also just feels so much more personal. Instead of pulling from the same ten images everyone has saved to a mood board somewhere, you’re finding things firsthand. I love digging on eBay, bidding on slightly obscure titles, going to bookstores and sitting on the floor for way too long just scanning for one image that feels worth it.
I have an ever growing archive of old magazines at this point, but one of my forever favorites is The Face—especially the ‘90s and early 2000s issues. The first time I picked up a copy, I got hooked on the styling, art direction, and typography that all feels so specific and unpolished in the best way.
The Face has one of those trajectories that feels very tied to a specific kind of cultural moment— where music, fashion, and image-making were all colliding in a way that felt genuinely new. The magazine was founded in 1980 by Nick Logan, a previous employee of NME who wanted to work on something beyond music journalism. The objective was to create a time capsule of the youth culture of the time and what was currently happening in nightlife, politics, style, and other emerging scenes— not solely music.
It became the place where photography started to matter just as much as writing in a magazine spread, and where fashion and music started blending into what we currently think of as the modern editorial. The Face helped launch the careers of many iconic image-makers like David Sims and Corinne Day whose photos first graced the pages of The Face. It was also one of the first magazines to feature a then unknown Kate Moss.
I’ve always adored the way the spreads feel a bit grittier, more natural and less glossy. I’m letting you into my stash and sharing some of the pages I come back to consistently.
As an avid magazine collector, here are a few of my favorite places to purchase from whether you are a first time purchaser, or are looking to grow your library:
Magazine Canteen: They have the largest collection of The Face available for purchase online, as well as a slew of other amazing titles like i-D, Pop, Nylon and more.
Idea: A brilliant London based distributor and bookstore known for sourcing and publishing hard-to-find art, fashion, and photography books. I am especially fond of their tightly curated selection and reissuing cult titles that are otherwise nearly impossible to track down. They always have amazing magazines to choose from.
The Face Magazine Lot: I’m constantly scouring eBay for magazine lots like this. This is the complete 1995 year set which is the perfect start to your collection.
Wishing you more analogue creative inspiration sessions.
Always close,
NFS