OWN Magazine.

It’s that time of year again – the weather becomes gradually more tolerable, the mood of the general population improves with onset of the Spring/Summer season, and, of course, it’s time for locking myself indoors in order to tackle countless essays and assignments. And, while poring over theories on Last Tango in Paris and its politicisation of sexuality is far from boring, it’s a far-cry from devouring fash mags.

Having been offered the opportunity to preview the new issue of OWN magazine, I was eagerly awaiting its arrival so as to flee from the confines of Microsoft Word and delve into its clean-cut aesthetic. It’s here, and has been, undoubtedly, worth the wait. While I’m a fan of wordy mags and easily read – cover-to-cover – something as inappropriate to my own lifestyle as Elle, it’s refreshing to find a publication, like OWN, that effectively blends informative articles with inspiring editorials and an overall slick design. No wonder, then, that this a Japanese-produced read.

From a kind of photo-profile of the work of Japanese menswear designer, Kazuyuki Kumagai (easily my new menswear fave), to a feature on an Italian-style, Osaka-based café, OWN aggregates all facets of style with the result that everyone from the fashion aficionado to interiors obsessive is more than satisfied.

Even the editorials seem to reflect the pure aesthetic of the magazine with an emphasis on sharp but simultaneously subtle styles. Take note, too, that gender-bending is at the core of the magazine with each issue’s cover composed of an eye-catching shot of a female model bedecked in the finest men’s clothing (issue 9 features Yves Saint Laurent AW09) – a welcome alternative to certain publications’ collective penchant for semi-naked actresses.