Frankie and Julie are Sweethearts

I am a fan of the blog Girl With a Satchel, written by the talented Erica Bartle.  I have met Erica and can also attest to the fact she is beautiful, grounded and a delight to have coffee with.  GWAS is all about Erica’s take on the magazine world, and while it would be easy to think this would mean her blog would be superficial and celebrity obsessed – it’s not.  I love how Erica consistently tries to see the good in the glossies, while at the same time holding them more accountable to the influence they have – particularly on girls and young women.  Erica is also, to my mind, a great positive body image activist and she regularly talks about body image, eating disorders and esteem issues in her posts.

I was reading this post by Erica about the latest issue of Frankie magazine this week and could literally hear the excitement she was feeling about delving into its pages.  I left a comment saying I had perused through Frankie at the hairdressers before, but never purchased or read a full edition.  Based on Erica’s writing I decided to buy a copy and…I’m in love.  Frankie and Julie are sweethearts.

While some magazines can be filled with dangerous diets, vapid gossip and models who all look the same, there are publications out there that are the antithesis to this and I think Frankie just may be one of them.  What a delight it was for me to turn the pages of Frankie and find the following –

A cover girl who looks minimally made up with natural freckles showing through, a greatly reduced amount of advertising in comparison to other publications I’ve read and an editors letter entirely dedicated to supporting survivors of the Haiti earthquake.  Feature stories included one on inspired young cooks (and their recipes), becoming a more connected and better neighbour, how an art project is helping the homeless, a first hand report on asylum seekers currently detained on Christmas Island and romantic comedies with heart and soul.  There’s some serious first class reading there that speaks straight to the heart of young women who are looking for a magazine that can provide them with something smart, sassy and intelligent.  This is all wrapped up in beautiful photography, cute and quirky fashion and divine, slightly rough textured pages that make you feel like you are reading a large book. 

My favourite story in Frankie by far though is entitled ‘Ask a Nana.’  I laughed out loud when I read the responses from Lorna, June, Joyce and co, to the question “What would you say to your 20 year old self?”  Some gem answers include:

Betty: “Find a man.  Make sure he’s rich. Then marry him.”  Ok Betty!

Alice: “Travel.  See the world.  See how other people live, see their traditions, their customs.”  I’m in total agreeance Alice.

Lastly, my personal favourite, from Joyce: “Open a store that makes sensible frocks, blouses, knitwear and all at affordable prices.  Nothing like todays fashion – all the necks are too big which means your boobs fall out.”  Absolute GOLD Joyce.  Gold.

Any young women’s magazine that is open and willing to go into a nursing home and ask some divine senior ladies some sage advice to pass on to their readership, wins my heart and tick.

Thanks for the breath of fresh air Frankie.  I applaud you for treating your readership like whole and smart human beings.  I only wish we had been sweethearts many, many years ago.