Harper’s Bazaar (January 2006) – Julianne Moore in green dress

Like so many great moments in fashion, this Julianne Moore cover photographed by Peter Lindbergh is iconic because it breaks all the rules. Traditionally, Moore is not a guaranteed grand slam on the newsstand. In this case, her face is partially obscured by her hair, and her smile isn’t broad. Furthermore, both her dress and the type are green—a color not normally reflected in high newsstand sales. Here, however, green struck gold. Newsstand sales for this issue increased by more than 10% compared to the January 2005 issue of Bazaar. If Harper’s Bazaar had done cover research, this cover would never have been produced—which just goes to show that the first rule of a successful cover is that there are no rules.

VIBE (June 2006) – Busta Rhymes with duct tape over his mouth

Not many celebrities are willing to poke fun at their controversies. When rapper Busta Rhymes was attacked for allegedly withholding information in the murder of his bodyguard, he accepted VIBE’s invitation to address it.

LIFE (December 3, 2005) – Scarlett Johannson “Let It Snow” cover

There will be other charming, lovely, playful, sexy or perfectly-suited-to-the-season covers submitted in this category, but there will be precious few that are all of those things. Here, LIFE captures the gorgeous, elfin Scarlett Johannson—her allure, her playfulness, her sexiness, her coy intelligence—without the gimmickry or high-concept conceits. LIFE’s art directors accent the portrait with snowflakes and elegant, lively type treatment, playing off the wintry theme but never intruding. In the end, LIFE has created a poster for both the star and the season.

New York (July 3-10, 2006) – Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen on the beach.

Using a kitschy beach backdrop, New York playfully depicts the most iconic characteristics of Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson on the cover of the annual “Summer Issue.” Seductive Scarlett dons a ‘50s couture swimsuit, channeling the era from which she often appears to have just arrived. And Woody, old-fashioned in an entirely different way, looks classically curmudgeonly while refusing to wear anything but cords and a tweed jacket for a day at the beach.

Premiere (July/August 2006) – Steve Carell with hook in mouth

Premiere’s cover does everything a great magazine cover is supposed to do: It features an appropriate subject (the hilarious Steve Carell), clear and colorful coverlines, and the originality to pop on the newsstand. This is Premiere’s first-ever comedy issue and Carell, with a fish hook stuck in his mouth, is a perfect “catch.” The cover presents an actor who has a huge fan base and one who has not been written about ad nauseam. The photograph is inventive and funny, a great choice for a comedy issue. The coverlines are bright, seasonally appropriate, and easy to read.

Rolling Stone (November 3, 2005) – U2’s Bono close up

This could well be the most stripped-down celebrity cover ever—an honest and unglamorous portrait of a musician at the height of his influence. Platon’s stark and unadorned photo offers the definitive portrait—to accompany the definitive interview—of one of the most important personalities of our generation.