Being a woman is an art. Being a woman means facing the challenges of western society’s social standards, gender discrimination, and objectification. Discussions on femininity, materialism, beauty, and double standards are important for women of all ages, and Darling magazine tackles these issues head-on. The magazine has recently released their 17th issue, Time, and Zephyrus was lucky enough to get their hands on a copy. The pages are divided into different segments such as The Achiever, The Hostess, and The Intellectual. It boasts 8 sections dedicated to an in-depth exploration of the different hats women wear in their everyday life.

The magazine itself is heavy, the pages high-quality with the scent of fresh paper. Our first impression? “It looks like a high-brow Cosmopolitan,” said Edina High School math teacher James Schofield. We think that sums it up. Contemporary mixed with modern and vintage, the magazine epitomizes a modern piece of art and the modern woman. Opening it up and glancing through is equivalent to any relaxing weekend activity. Since it’s late October release, it has been lovingly admired by Zephyrus and EHS students alike. We can collectively say that it effectively combines the best quality of each EHS publication: Images’ art and photography, Windigo’s layout, and Zephyrus’ content.

The photographs, the art… They not only blow the reader away, but they inspire us to embrace our quirks and be ourselves. Darling proudly advertises: “None of the women in this magazine have been retouched”. In an age of Photoshop to correct imperfections, this step off the mainstream path reiterates the Darling message that being a woman is a blessing and an art.

Not only does it boast stunning photography, art, and aesthetically pleasing layouts, but the content is relevant and interesting. The magazine’s articles are produced for the everyday modern woman varying from interviews with powerful women and dealing with sarcasm to how to take care of your indoor plants and discussing the pros and cons of the social machine. Content confronts a variety of real issues many women face today, an undertaking few publications have tackled head-on. It’s the art of-the-moment.

The magazine is distributed quarterly and publishes content online at darlingmagazine.org daily. You can find it online and in Anthropologie stores; the $20 price tag is worth every penny.

Let’s evoke our own discussion in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you! What does being a woman mean? How do we effectively and positively challenge cultural “ideals” of beauty?