In a world of Kindles and tweets (which get old after a while!), a new print magazine launches this week (thank heavens!) and offers a timely reminder of the pleasures and power of the printed page.

Inspired by Fleur Cowles' legendary Flair magazine (1950-51), which the New York Times described as "one of the most extravagant and innovative magazines ever published," the collectable biannual embraces the term "vintage" in both content and construction. In each issue, an eclectic roster of writers and artists explore art, music, fashion, food, travel and more amongst a trove of textures, fonts, folds, and die-cuts. Boasting stunning design, illustrations, and artwork, the premiere issue features an open spine bound with red ribbon, paying tribute to the craft of magazine assembly.

Vintage Magazine was founded by Ivy Baer Sherman, a first-time magazine publisher with a background in graphic design, photography, and publishing. For the premier issue, she enlisted a wide range of contributors, from veteran Adweek columnist Barbara Lippert to award-winning music writer Gary Giddins, the former jazz critic for the Village Voice. She was inspired to create Vintage after visiting a 2003 retrospective on Flair Magazine at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery

"Flair was incomparable in both content and design -- and Vintage Magazine tries to recapture the brilliant commingling of these two elements," said Sherman. "Our goal is to create a reading experience that stirs the senses and stimulates the mind. We hope readers return to each issue again and again, discovering something new and surprising with each visit."

Highlights of the premier issue include:

- An homage to the lost art of the album cover by Giddins, told on pages cut to resemble album jackets for the seminal 45 rpm single (p. 8)

- An essay by Lippert on the myriad moods and meanings of Barbie, as the pop culture icon enters her 50s (p. 33)

- A playful pictorial history of hairstyles through the ages presented in flip-book form (p. 48)

- Artist Judith Oksner brings a life-changing trip to Paris to life with beautiful watercolor illustrations and excerpts of letters written to her parents during a school year abroad in the 1950s (p. 22)

- Randi Gollin on the rise (and rise) of the Ferragamo wedge, illustrated with a glossy photo tucked behind a die-cut window (p. 42)

- The dirty truth behind New York City's 19th century sugar refineries by food historian Joy Santlofer (p. 58)

- Writer Kristen Frederickson ruminates on 60-year old recipe cards handed down from her grandmother (p. 80)

- One man's ode to his 1973 Dino Ferrari, displayed in all its cherry- red glory in a wide foldout photo (p. 87)

Vintage Magazine is available now for $20 per issue, $32 for a year's subscription (2 issues), or $60 (4 issues). Magazines and subscriptions can be purchased at www.vintagezine.com