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.[1]

Ailsa Garland in 1953

Born Ailsa Mary Garland in 1917 in London, she was educated at the La Retraite Convent, London, and Heathneld House, Cardiff.[2] She married John Rollit Mason in 1948.[3]

From 1947-50 Garland worked as Fashion Editor for the Vogue Export Book, then from 1952-53 she was editor for Shopping magazine.[3] In 1953 she became fashion editor for the Daily Mirror.[3] She has been listed alongside Alison Adburgham of The Guardian and Ernestine Carter of The Sunday Times as one of the most influential British-based fashion journalists of the decade.[4] In 1960 The Spectator 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.[5]

After leaving Vogue in 1964, Garland became Editor-in-Chief of Woman's Journal, at that time the largest women's magazine in the UK.[3][6] In 1965 she launched Man's Journal, an equivalent publication aimed towards the male reader, with designer Hardy Amies as its first guest editor.[6] She stayed with Woman's Journal until 1968.[3] During the last couple of years, 1967–68, Garland also edited a magazine called Fashion.[3] As editor of Fashion, Garland was asked to choose the Dress of the Year for 1968, for which she picked out a dress by Jean Muir and shoes by Bally.[7] In 1975 Garland was Fashion Coordinator for IPC Magazines Ltd.[3]

In 1970 Garland published her autobiography, Lion's Share.[3][8] She died in 1982.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Staff writer. "Ailsa Mary Garland - Person". National Portrait Gallery. NPG. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  2. ^ The Author's & Writer's Who's who, Volume 4. Burke's Peerage, Limited. 1960.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Kay, Ernest, ed. (1975). The World Who's who of Women, Volume 3. Melrose Press. p. 307.
  4. ^ Jackson, Tim; Shaw, David (2004). The Fashion Handbook. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. p. 162. ISBN 9781134521128.
  5. ^ Whitehorn, Katharine (21 April 1960). "Out of Vogue". The Spectator. p. 37. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b Staff writer (8 May 1965). "Magazine Sends Shivers Down Spines". The Brandon Sun. Retrieved 13 October 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Dress of the Year". The Fashion Museum, Bath. Bath & North East Somerset Council. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  8. ^ Garland, Ailsa (1970). Lion's share. London: Joseph. ISBN 0718105435.
Media offices
Preceded by Editor of British Vogue
1960–1964
Succeeded by