Excerpted from “How Do I Love September? Let Me Count The Magazines...”

by Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, Ph.D.

September brings about the hint of autumn, the singular flutter of a yellowing leaf to the ground, depending upon where you live; I live in Mississippi—hence the singular flutter, splashes of oranges and yellows from the pumpkins and fall squash in the markets.

But most important in the world of magazines (ink on paper that is) and magazine media (everything else) it is that time of year when the crème-de-la-crème of publishing rise to the top with their most extravagant issues of the year.

And for most, September 2013 is offering their biggest editions ever. It’s a celebration of fashion, football and the fall season.

Vogue: Up first and weighing in at a hefty 902 pages is Vogue. This issue is synonymous with evocative style, beauty and fashion, as only Vogue can do. The content of the magazine is chock-full of visually liberating ads that transport you into a world of haute couture that is both extreme and exhilarating.

Anna Wintour’s letter from the editor begins on page 276, just to drive home the image of the magazine’s thickness in one’s mind. Totally amazing.

InStyle: InStyle shows off their “biggest issue ever!!” - two exclamation points. 716 pages of fall fashion.

ELLE: ELLE shouts to the world: “Our biggest fashion issue ever! 650+ pages” - with a curvaceous Kate Upton receiving the cover’s hello.

Harper’s Bazaar: Not to be left behind, Harper’s Bazaar proclaims “Biggest Issue Ever” with 598 pages of fashion fun. You’ll find Editor, Glenda Bailey’s letter, on page 206 and in her own words the proud declaration: “Our September Issue, the largest issue in our history.” Certainly, something to exclaim about.

W: The fall fashion issue of W flaunts its oversized beauty proudly with 454 pages of chic.

Marie Claire: Marie Claire comes in at 428 pages and looks marvelous doing it.

Glamour: Glamour, as “glamorous” as ever with 386 pages.

Vanity Fair: Vanity Fair is 362 pages of style, featuring the 74th International Best-Dressed list and a dead celebrity on the cover.

People StyleWatch: People StyleWatch at 328 pages announce their “Biggest Issue Ever.”

Cosmopolitan: Cosmopolitan shares their always entertaining “tips and advice” between their 264 pages.

New York: New York Magazine features 208 pages in their fall fashion double issue and is very noteworthy because the fashion model is sporting a barely-there design (a tattoo) made in collaboration with Marc Jacob’s tattooist—which happens to be the model’s husband. 

GQ: And in the men’s world, GQ comes in with two different covers giving a shout-out to their biggest ever NFL kickoff with 296 pages.

Details: The fashion issue of Details uses 234 pages to tell guys how to look great this fall.

Esquire: And Esquire has 216 pages with their biggest style issue, featuring Thor himself - Chris Hemsworth.

So what does all this mean? Simply that print magazines still anticipate the seasons the same way we humans do. In fact, it might be fair to say, we anticipate the seasons because of those special magazine issues. With their lush, overflowing-to-the-hilt content, I really can’t think of a reason not to.

Samir “Mr. Magazine™” Husni, is founder and director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi. When not in his office reading magazines, Dr. Husni is on the newsstands buying magazines. You can read his blog at http://mrmagazine.wordpress.com/