Introduction

Zhurnal Mod (‘Fashion Journal’) is a samizdat periodical containing fashion illustrations. The authors, Sergei Sigei and Ry Nikonova (also spelt as Serge Segay and Rea Nikonova), compiled these illustrations between 1972 and 1974 in Russia. During this time, Russia was part of the Soviet Union. Under the Soviet regime, Socialist Realism was the only authorized art style (Reid, 2017). This was a realistic style which depicted the Soviet Union in a favourable light. For artists like Sigei and Nikonova who did not prescribe to this art style, self-published samizdat became a safer alternative to independent art exhibits (Komaromi, 2015).