Magazine Cover Staff Blog

Beautiful, Young and Successful – A Dazed and Confused Collection

Dazed and Confused was started by John Rankin Waddell and Jefferson Hack as a black and white folded poster that was published very infrequently.

It quickly changed it’s tune and became a full colour publication as Hack’s solid eye for emerging scenes, Rankin’s flare for design and portraiture and a dynamic fashion team built a reputation that preceded the magazines distribution. This reputation attracted some up and coming stars who’s careers were launched by their international debut via a Dazed and Confused cover. (See main picture for Jake Gyllenhaal’s ’98 Cover).

Hillary Swank was one of these young hopefuls to get a Dazed cover and a career out of it. This is a bit more of a risque shot than Alicia Keys normally takes, but it put her in the public eye and her career hasn’t looked back since.

Pharrell Williams and Eminem both started out from the cover of Dazed and Confused as well, but they are a little controversial. Dazed and Confused now only competes against i-D after edging out two of its three major competitors.

Below are some of my favourite Dazed covers.