Remember the days when you would flip through the pages of Vogue and not find a single thing for under $500? Those days are no more…at least while the country is in a recession.

Turns out, times are tough everywhere, even in the gilded offices of America’s most prestigious fashion magazine. So, they’ve stooped (somewhat) to the level of everyone else and are featuring lower-priced items and big “bargain” issues. And I use the term “bargain” loosely. Yes, it’s a shock that Anna Wintour has allowed the pages of her magazine to be filled with items the masses might actually be able to afford. However, a $449 croquet set is neither practical or thrifty.

To the credit of the magazine, there are some truly reasonable items from chains like Gap and Nine West featured in new issues. But, are they alienating their elite clientele with these common items? Maybe….some stuffy readers might be put-off by the new fashions featured in their holy book. But, I’m confident Vogue hasn’t forgotten it’s key demographic. The $500 cap and pricey croquet assure me of this.

If they were really to lower the bar to the likes of Glamour and Cosmo, I think the headlines would read something more like, “Top 50 buys under $50.”

For now Vogue keeps it’s illustrious shine. But the cracks are showing. Will Vogue truly go cheap? Or will the magazine be up to it’s old tricks before we know it?

I’m leaning towards the latter.