2020’s Top Magazine Covers

The dynamic images that captured our attention

by esaidshesaid

There has been no shortage of news and stories to tell over the past year, but while our phones, Zoom, and other screens took up much of our time, these attention-grabbing magazine covers stood out from the rest.

Many other publications printed shot brilliant covers with impressive layouts, but these impressed the most.

When it came to capture movement in a still image, TIME, InStyle, and Vogue hit the mark. O Magazine, The New Yorker, and Rolling Stone didn’t shy away from the movements to protect Black lives—or from shining light on the lives lost that catalyzed the movement.

But it was publications like Esquire, GQ, Elle, and Essence that served strong editorial images that their brands are known for.

Black excellence was in full display with Mary J. Blige’s regal styling on the cover of Cultured Magazine. Crwn and Cosmopolitan tapped into younger Black demographics with covers that featured Issa Rae and Chloe x Halle, respectively.

The avant garde came from an Allure cover featuring actor and entertainer Billy Porter. The blue light on his Black skin is stunning. And the styling honored the man who has already established himself as a fashion icon.

Trans rights and visibility icon Janet Mock covered Marie Claire—again—showing the brand’s commitment to inclusivity on its pages if not with its editorial staff.

Which magazines were so striking at first glance that you were compelled to buy a copy? They were a big part of making us feel good as hell this year. 

~ The Stylists Suite team