Other cultural touchstones mentioned in issues around this time included Sarah Michelle Gellar and emerging stars like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. Fashion & Aesthetic Trends
The October 1998 issue of Seventeen magazine is a quintessential time capsule of late-90s teen culture, most notable for featuring on the cover. At the time, Russell was the breakout star of the new hit TV series Felicity , which had premiered just weeks earlier. Cover Star & Pop Culture
The issue also featured high-profile content on Lauryn Hill, who was dominating the charts following the August release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill . Seventeen 292 October 1998
The October 1998 edition showcased the peak of "Y2K-prep" and "grunge-lite" fashion:
Prominent features included flared denim (like JNCOs), butterfly clips, and early-autumn layering. Other cultural touchstones mentioned in issues around this
The magazine frequently balanced traditional beauty advice with emerging "alternative" styles popular in the late 90s. Social Themes
The cover story focused on Russell's transition to stardom and her iconic curly hair, which became a defining aesthetic of the era. Cover Star & Pop Culture The issue also
During this period, Seventeen was navigating a transition from its mid-century roots as a guide for "model citizens" to a more consumer-driven, pop-culture-heavy publication.