Though I was born too late to have experienced the rise, or even the fall of the revolutionary Sassy magazine, I'm still fascinated by its revolutionary nature. My curiosity has involved scouring Etsy and Ebay for old issues and spending hours poring over every page of the faded editorials and articles. It's been 20 years since Sassy became defunct, but the stories felt as real to me as if they'd just been published.
If you're hearing about Sassy magazine for the first time, all you need to know is that it was an amazing teen girl magazine that ran from 1988-1994, and discussed women's issues, with cover lines like "One Girl Against Patriarchy" and "Do You Need Armpit Hair to Be a Feminist?" It made a point to feature girls from diverse backgrounds and body shapes, and featured them in photo shoots based on everything from Twin Peaks to Willa Cather stories. The writers wrote in a laidback style that didn't talk down to teens, but felt instead like a best friend (who just happened to also be BFFs with famous musicians and artists). Not to mention that Sassy was also a major inspiration for BUST!
Thanks to Sassy Scans, a tumblr dedicated to posting pages from the magazine, old fans can relive their teenage years, while new ones can get a glimpse at the very best of 90's grrrl culture, and maybe get a fashion tip or two. Along with great photo shoots and articles, the scans show awesome DIYs, interviews, and pics of some of our favorite sassy girls (like Chloe Sevigny and Rashida Jones). Here's just a taste:
To check out more scans or to send some of your own, go to Sassy Scans.
All Images Via Sassy Scans
Nina Karina is a writer and librarian based in Athens, GA. In her free time you can find her reading through a stack of overdue library books or rewatching Greta Gerwig movies.You can find her at ninakarina.com
