Ailsa Garland (1917–1982) was a British fashion journalist. She worked for a number of newspapers and magazines, most notably as the editor of
British ''Vogue'' from 1960–1964. In addition to her work, she was a broadcaster on television and radio.
Born Ailsa Mary Garland in 1917 in London, she was educated at the La Retraite Convent, London, and Heathneld House, Cardiff. She married John Rollit Mason in 1948.
From 1947-50 Garland worked as Fashion Editor for the ''Vogue Export Book'', then from 1952-53 she was editor for ''Shopping'' magazine.
[ In 1953 she became fashion editor for the '']Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print c ...
''.[ She has been listed alongside Alison Adburgham of '']The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' and Ernestine Carter
Ernestine Marie Carter OBE (née Fantl; 10 October 1906 – 1 August 1983) was an American-born British museum curator, journalist, and fashion writer. She became hugely influential in her roles as women's editor, and later associate editor of ' ...
of ''The Sunday Times
''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, w ...
'' as one of the most influential British-based fashion journalists of the decade. In 1960 ''The Spectator
''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world.
It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''The ...
'' reported that Garland had left the ''Mirror'' in order to join British ''Vogue'' as part of a greater change of the magazine's focus away from luxury and exclusivity.
After leaving ''Vogue'' in 1964, Garland became Editor-in-Chief of ''Woman's Journal
''Woman's Journal'' was an American women's rights periodical published from 1870 to 1931. It was founded in 1870 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Lucy Stone and her husband Henry Browne Blackwell as a weekly newspaper. In 1917 it was purchased by ...
'', at that time the largest women's magazine in the UK.Hardy Amies
Sir Edwin Hardy Amies KCVO (17 July 1909 – 5 March 2003) was an English fashion designer, founder of the Hardy Amies label and a Royal Warrant holder as designer to the Queen.
Early life
Hardy Amies was born Edwin Amies on 17 July 1909 in ...
as its first guest editor.[ She stayed with ''Woman's Journal'' until 1968.][ During the last couple of years, 1967–68, Garland also edited a magazine called ''Fashion''.][ As editor of ''Fashion'', Garland was asked to choose the ]Dress of the Year
The Dress of the Year is an annual fashion award run by the Fashion Museum, Bath from 1963. Each year since 1963, the Museum has asked a fashion journalist to select a dress or outfit that best represents the most important new ideas in contempor ...
for 1968, for which she picked out a dress by Jean Muir
Jean Elizabeth Muir ( ; 17 July 1928 – 28 May 1995) was a British fashion designer.
Early life and career
Jean Muir was born in London, the daughter of Cyril Muir, a draper's floor superintendent, and his wife, Phyllis Coy. Her father ...
and shoes by Bally. In 1975 Garland was Fashion Coordinator for IPC Magazines
TI Media (formerly International Publishing Company, IPC Magazines Ltd, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) was a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its tit ...
Ltd.[
In 1970 Garland published her autobiography, ''Lion's Share''.][
]
References
1917 births
1982 deaths
British women journalists
English fashion journalists
British magazine editors
Fashion editors
Date of birth unknown
20th-century British women writers
Women magazine editors
{{UK-journalist-stub