THE BOOK OF LISTS: The 10 Best magazine covers

1. Vogue Royal Issue

The queen of UK style showcased its pedigree once again with the

December issue. As with last year's Gold edition, also featuring Kate

Moss, the editor, Alex Shulman, had the confidence to dispense with

cover lines in favour of a truly memorable image. Vogue's Christmas

message: true quality shines through.

2. Glamour - Kate Winslet

A clear image, simply and beautifully shot, that sent a signal roaring

around UK publishing: covers can look good in A5 format. This ensured

2001's success story looked that way from the start.

3. Cosmopolitan - Model Behaviour

The National Magazine Company got the best of both worlds from its

association with the Channel 4 show Model Behaviour: loads of publicity

with crucial younger readers and a cover that, against the odds perhaps,

looks tremendous. As viewers will be tired of hearing by now, young

Jenny from Wales isn't Cosmo's type. Could have fooled us.

4. Esquire - Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman

These stylish, instantly classic images could have been lifted from the

portfolio of a 50s Hollywood photographer. The twin covers tied in

perfectly with one of the year's event movies, Moulin Rouge, and its

celebration of old-style glamour. Contrasted with GQ's naked Hear'say

offering the same month, this provided more ammunition for Esquire's

claim to be the highest end men's title.

5. GQ - Men of the Year

It may not do the black and white stuff as often as its rival but GQ's

celebrity pulling power outweighs any other men's title - and it doesn't

mind showing it. This four set included Kylie Minogue, Elton John, Bono

and, perhaps most impressively, Benicio Del Toro.

6. Loaded - Samantha Robson

At their best, Loaded covers combine sex appeal with visual gags that

tend to escape the other lads' mags. Keith Kendrick's debut issue as

editor showed that we can expect more of the same. This shot of The Bill

actress isn't quite as good as last year's Mel B but it's still a sign

that this title has some wit to offer the sector.

7. The Face - David Beckham

One of the year's most memorable images which generated plenty of

"shocked" tabloid coverage to reinforce the cutting-edge credentials of

both the magazine and its subject.

8. Radio Times - TV Generations

Heart-warming demonstration of the magazine's grasp of TV heritage,

despite its modernisation this year. This set of covers showed that the

medium can mean more to us than listings - and when it does, nobody

covers it better.

9. She - Anthea Turner

Lying naked in a pile of strawberries didn't work out for Anthea the way

she might have hoped - but that doesn't mean She didn't get a whole lot

out of it. Plenty of scornful column inches ensured that this was one of

the best-known covers of the year.

10. Good Housekeeping - Oprah Winfrey

Getting Oprah on the cover is a massive coup on either side of the

Atlantic - and perfect for Good Housekeeping's readership. Clearly La

Winfrey isn't planning to launch O magazine over here just yet.

This article was first published on Campaign