Celebrating 65 Years: Her World covers through the decades

Her World has always been more than just a magazine—it’s a time capsule of what it meant (and still means) to be a woman in Singapore. Since our very first issue in the 60s, the covers have captured the changing faces of beauty, the shifts in style, and the conversations that mattered most to women of each generation. 

Flip through the decades and you’ll see more than glamorous outfits or bold makeup looks—you’ll see the evolution of womanhood itself. From trailblazing career women in the ’70s to the modern multi-hyphenates of today, every cover reflects the heartbeat of its era while pointing towards the future.

As Her World marks 65 years this year, we’re taking a walk down memory lane with some of our most iconic covers from each decade to see how fashion, beauty, and even the very idea of womanhood have evolved alongside the times.

‘90s: The Cover Personality as the Subject

The 1990s saw Her World diversify its content, covering a wide range of topics from fashion and beauty to lifestyle, career, and personal development. It also saw the birth and the rise of the celebrity/personality profile.

Celebrity and Personality Profiles: The magazine began featuring more interviews and profiles of local and international celebrities, connecting with readers through the lives of influential figures.

March 1990

From “A Wife Is Worth Mega-Dollars” to “How Sexy Women Fool Silly Men with a Class Act,” this March 1990 issue of Her World is peak retro charm. For instance, the cover lines capture a time when women were redefining power, beauty, and wit — celebrating curves, ambition, and clever confidence in equal measure.

August 1990

The bold “Celebrate!” headline says it all. Women in the 90s were done apologising and ready to shine. From “The Prettiest Party Gear” to “Don’t Resist That Chocolate Cake,” this issue captured the spirit of a decade where confidence, indulgence, and individuality finally took centre stage.

July 1991

The cover lines are a time capsule of the modern woman’s ambitions then. For example, “How to Marry and Have Money Forever,” “Understanding Stocks and Shares,” and “Write Letters That Win Jobs.” This just goes to show that even in the early ’90s, women were already navigating love, money, and career on their own terms.

January 1992

The Her World January 1992 cover is bold, confident, and unafraid to mix power dressing with deeply personal storytelling. It captured a moment when women were stepping into boardrooms and doing it in neon-green blazers and pleated skirts.

Yet, amid all the shoulder pads and strong silhouettes, the magazine also highlights more personal issues, showing how it wasn’t just about fashion, but about real, complex lives.

July 1993

Headlined by “White-hot lingerie: Sheer sizzling sexiness!”, the issue perfectly captures the era’s flirtation with empowerment through intimacy.

Then there are the wonderfully vintage cover lines, “Watch out! Expat Buaya in Action,” “Is Yours a Weekend Marriage?”, offering a peek into the relationship dilemmas and social quirks that defined the conversations in the ‘90s in Singapore.

January 1998

This particular magazine in the ‘90s serves as a reminder that even before social media think-pieces, women’s magazines were already starting the tough conversations — from love and money to body politics and fear.

In true Her World fashion, this 1998 issue was all about giving women everything they needed: style, smarts, sass.

‘80s: The Chic Modern Woman

The 1980s marked a shift towards modernity. Her World embraced bold fashion trends that captured the energy of the era, but its pages also began reflecting something deeper — the changing aspirations and roles of women in society.

Focus on Career and Independence: With an increasing number of women entering the workforce, Her World expanded its scope beyond beauty and fashion to feature content on career development, financial literacy, and personal empowerment. The magazine became a guide not just for style, but for women who were striving to build independence and chart their own futures.

April 1980

With slicked-back hair, dramatic eyeliner, and glossy red lips, this cover exuded unapologetic glamour. But beyond the striking look, the cover lines made it memorable — tackling hot-button issues of the time, from women gambling to motherhood.

July 1982

This cover celebrated the “barefaced beauty” movement of the early ’80s with radiant skin, voluminous curls, and a statement floral accessory tucked into the hair. The cover lines pushed boundaries too, from women voicing ambitions and “high flying dreams” to candid confessions about relationships.

February 1984

This cover commanded attention with its razor-sharp bob, glossy red lips, and oversized earrings — a look that perfectly matched the era’s power-dressing mood. The cover lines were just as bold, tackling issues like post-baby depression, fraud, and the art of honesty in love.

March 1985

With her cropped hair, softly smoked eyes, and pastel lips, this cover embodied the fresh, androgynous beauty of the mid-’80s. The cover lines stood out too — exploring women earning over $7,000 a month, novels as life lessons, and even men’s loneliness.

February 1987

This cover turned heads with its structured hat, bold red jacket, and glossy lips, a striking portrait of ’80s sophistication. The cover lines dug deep into real-life issues, from how much work husbands do at home to the “five most difficult men to live with.”

December 1989

Closing out the decade, this cover radiated confidence with a power smile, statement earrings, and a striking houndstooth jacket. Inside, the issue lived up to its “Biggest Ever” promise with audacious cover lines, from body talk (“Who’s Got the Best…?”) to other travel, health, and lifestyle topics.

‘70s: Emerging Women’s Liberation

As the Women’s Liberation Movement gained traction around the world, Her World began to shift too. The magazine slowly opened up to conversations around women’s rights and empowerment, and its content started reflecting a broader view of women’s place in society. Even the cover girls mirrored the times — showing a little more skin and confidence.

Social Shifts: The ’70s were all about activism and change. While Her World still held on to some traditional values in the early part of the decade, by the later years, you could see subtle nods to the evolving social landscape and the conversations shaping women’s lives.

April 1973

This April 1973 cover of Her World was all about swimsuits, sun, and the start of bolder, more confident fashion moments for women.

December 1973

Holiday glam, 1973-style — bold colours, festive flair, and even free tea bags with your magazine! Talk about the ultimate Christmas bundle.

March 1974

This issue wasn’t just about fashion; it gave readers a free Carnation hot cocoa sachet with their magazine.

March 1977

By the late ’70s, Her World wasn’t just about style, it was sparking conversations. This issue boldly asked if men should take more responsibility for birth control, while also celebrating women technocrats, global perspectives, and beauty in all its forms.

February 1978

This issue spotlighted “Singapore’s Superwomen,” debated marriage contracts, and even served up Chinese New Year recipes alongside striking style moments.

April 1978

April ’78 Her World dove into hard-hitting conversations on rape reporting, sex discrimination, and long-distance marriages, while still spotlighting beauty, Peranakan cuisine, and beach-ready style.

December 1979

Festive fashion on the cover, fearless questions inside, December ’79 summed up the spirit of change.

‘60s: Focus on Tradition

Back in its early years, Her World in Singapore spoke to a society still shaped by traditional values. The pages were filled with domestic tips, fashion inspiration and proper etiquette, with a strong emphasis on the home and crafts.

Print Power: At the time, print was the go-to source of information and Her World quickly made its mark as a leading lifestyle magazine, giving women a window into style, culture and everyday living.

July 1960

Her World’s early years embraced bold, modern visuals—this striking half-portrait against a vivid backdrop reflected the fresh outlook of the ’60s.

Oct 1961

A snapshot of youthful optimism, this 1961 cover captured the fun, fashionable spirit of the era. Back then, those who bought the magazine also received a complimentary dress patterns too.

Jan 1962

On this 1962 cover, a woman in a vibrant sari and timeless gold captures the elegance of the era, while the lion statue stands as a nod to Singapore’s identity.

Nov 1962

This 1962 cover highlighted the modern woman, poised in a sarong kebaya-inspired skirt while mapping out her own direction.

Sep 1966

Glamour and confidence defined this 1966 cover, where a star in glittering gold posed against the dramatic backdrop of a tiger skin rug, complete with the teasing cover line, ‘the star with the come-hither look.’

Oct 1968

With psychedelic prints and fearless energy, this 1968 cover reflected the era’s shift towards self-expression and individuality.