The success of the A5 "handbag" glossy magazine pioneered by Cond Nasts Glamour has lead to an outbreak of resizing.


Emaps Top Sante has been overhauled, shrinking to a squatter "American A4" format.


Formerly printed by St Ives, the new 276x213mm magazine is printed by Cooper Clegg on 70gsm Brilliant White paper.


The print run has also been increased by 40%. The magazine sells an average of 161,000 copies a month.


"The heavier paper makes a better use of our colour palette, and Cooper Cleggs short cut-offs are economical. We felt it was the right time to make some changes," said publishing director Margaret Hefferman.


Cooper Clegg first benefited from the smaller format when Cond Nast chose the Tewkesbury printer to produce Glamour on its 578mm cut-off Komori webs.


Meanwhile, the boys are muscling in on the action. Ex-Loaded editor James Brown has announced that his new launch, Project Jack, will be A5, so Cond Nast is replying by testing an A5 version of GQ later this year.


St Ives will print 20,000 copies of the magazine in October and November to sell alongside the A4 version in the North West, the North East and Scotland.


"Were just testing the water because it has not been done before," said commercial production manager Paul McCarthy.


Meanwhile, the publishing houses fashion bible, Vogue, has become bigger in pagination terms weighing in this month at 444pp plus cover with an 18mm spine.


"It was our biggest ever issue, and St Ives coped magnificently," said McCarthy.


Story by Fay Schopen