fashionologie

fashionologie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:37:49 -0800

>> Wintour Hires Obama Online Campaign Masterminds for Vogue.com -Last week, it came out that Elle pulled ahead of Vogue this year in terms of ad pages - 2,100 to 1,990, respectively - which Vogue SVP and publishing director Tom Florio chalked up to his reluctance to "heavily discount and use our editors to sell ad pages. What we saw happen this year, which we haven’t seen in a while, is the discounts were approaching 70 percent. Some of the deals that were being done were just crazy." This week, meanwhile, Anna Wintour is continuing to beef up Vogue's web presence - a spokesman confirmed that Blue State Digital, which masterminded Barack Obama's online campaign, has been hired to work on Vogue.com business and editorial sides, focusing on reader and subscriber outreach. [WWD, Jezebel]

fashionologie — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:54:08 -0700

>> Could Elle Be Joining the Conde Nast Portfolio? -Some are speculating that Conde Nast's across-the-board 25 percent cutbacks are not just for the sake of downsizing budgets, but also to prepare for a bigger move. In his company-wide memo sent out Monday, CEO Chuck Townsend stated: "The [McKinsey] review has led us to a number of decisions designed to navigate the company through the economic downturn and to position us to take advantage of coming opportunities." Rumors abounded earlier this year that Elle was on the block, with Bazaar publisher Hearst interested, but now "industry insiders are buzzing about Conde Nast possibly acquiring Elle in its quest to fill their lineup with broader offerings," reports Fashion Week Daily. [FWD]

fashionologie — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:30:49 -0700

>> Victoria Beckham For October Elle, Not Vogue; Michelle Obama to Be on Vogue Cover Again? - Though rumors placed Victoria Beckham on the October issue of Vogue, she's said to be fronting the October issue of Elle instead. And Michelle Obama, whose March 2009 cover of Vogue sold 560,000 newsstand copies (by comparison, Vogue's September 2008 issue sold 559,000 copies) may be back soon for another cover. This month's i-D hints: "In New York, the staff of American Vogue put finishing touches on an unprecedented second cover featuring a sitting First Lady who is black and beautiful." [The Cut, TFS]

fashionologie — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:26:08 -0700

>> Kanye West Styles for October 2009 Elle -Avid fashion show attendee Kanye West continues to dip his hands into the industry: first it was designing Louis Vuitton kicks, which promptly sold out, then an internship at Gap - which prompted rumors of a line in the works with the retailer - and now, he's styled a shoot for Elle's October 2009 Personal Style issue, creative director Joe Zee confirmed. [FWD]

September Issues: UK Fashion Mags Stick to Models (Save Elle), While US Mags Go with Actresses

fashionologie — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:33:43 -0700

>> The biggest issues of the year - for September - are trickling in, so who was chosen to be a big newsstand seller for each major fashion book? Both Harper's Bazaar UK and Vogue UK chose models - Natalia Vodianova by Paola Kudacki and Kate Moss by Mario Testino, respectively - while Harper's Bazaar and Vogue went with actresses - Leighton Meester by Terry Richardson and Charlize Theron (the latter of which is not yet out). American Vogue's choice of an actress is no surprise - in upcoming documentary The September Issue, the magazine's creative director Grace Coddington credits Anna Wintour with foreseeing the power of using celebrities on covers before anyone else - but the model/celebrity divide between the two countries is striking.

Meanwhile at Elle, both UK and US versions chose actresses: the former Lindsay Lohan by Rankin, the latter Jennifer Aniston (a well-known strong newsstand seller) by Alexei Hay.

fashionologie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:04:35 -0700

>> New York Post Maintains Hearst Is In Talks to Take Over Elle -Despite the fact that Elle owner Lagardere released a statement denying the New York Post's report earlier this week that Lagardere was exploring a deal with Harper's Bazaar publisher Hearst to take over the US operations of Elle, the New York Post responded today, stating that it "stands by its story." [NY Post]

Hearst To Take Over Elle?

fashionologie — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:52:18 -0700

>> Rumors are flying after the New York Post reported via an anonymous source this morning that Hachette Filipacchi owner Lagardere is in talks with Harper's Bazaar publisher Hearst about taking over the US operations of Elle. The source stated that if a deal went through, a joint venture or long-term licensing agreement would be made, similar to the deal Lagardere and Hearst have made for Marie Claire, and would only apply to the American version of Elle.

The Post estimates that Elle is valued around $200 million, whereas Hearst's profits hovered around $225 million last year and are expected to fall lower this year.

So far, they're denying it »

September 2009 Ad Numbers: Everyone Plunges, Vogue Still on Top, W May Be in Trouble

fashionologie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:42:59 -0700

>> The expected thirty percent decrease was optimistic for some fashion magazines, it turns out, particularly those in Conde Nast's fold. Yesterday, Conde CEO Charles Townsend sent out a memo acknowledging the hire of consulting firm McKinsey & Co. to analyze its business strategy - and no wonder: with the loss of the ad-filled September Fashion Rocks supplement, Vogue fell to 427 ad pages in September, down 36 percent from last year; Teen Vogue tumbled to 136 pages, down 31 percent; and W may be in serious trouble - it lost the most ad pages out of any Conde magazine, down 53 percent to 185 ad pages.

For comparison's sake, Elle will carry 21 fewer pages in September at 327 total, and Harper's Bazaar is estimated to run between 275 and 285 pages, or about 25 percent fewer pages. It is worth noting that Vogue still tops in total number of ad pages.

fashionologie — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:02:33 -0700

>> Did Kate Lanphear Influence Rihanna's New Haircut? -The Internet is in a tizzy after Rihanna debuted a new 'do involving a partially shaved head, but was she, given how fashion-savvy she is, inspired by Elle style director Kate Lanphear's look? Elle's creative director Joe Zee thinks so: "Rihanna shaves part of her head but our own Kate Lanphear has been sporting that same cut for months now." [Interview, Joe Zee Twitter]

September 2009 Issues To Be Lighter But Blonde-Heavy

fashionologie — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:58:02 -0700

>> As is to be expected, this year's September issues are not going to be the behemoths of yesteryear: publishers are approaching their closing deadlines this week and said that they expect issues to be about a third lighter than years past.

The September issues are still anticipated to be the Fall's largest, as most advertisers withdrew their pre-collection ads that run in August to focus on September and will run fewer ads, if any, in the remaining months. As for the cover faces, magazines are sticking with safe bets - blonde white women. Vogue will feature Charlize Theron, who usually graces their October covers (in 2004 and 2007); W will, as reported, have Kate Moss photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott; Elle will boast perenially newstand-friendly Jennifer Aniston; Allure went with Amanda Seyfriend, Glamour with Jessica Simpson, and Marie Claire with Ashley Olsen.

No word on Harper's Bazaar, POP, V, LOVE, or Vogue Italia, but Vogue Paris is said to be breaking the blonde mold by dying a usually flaxen-haired model's coif black in a "radical model makeover" - some suspect the "luscious" beauty in question may be Lara Stone.