Forbes has announced 2009’s most powerful Fashion Magazine Editors and the list goes a little something like this:
10. Ann Shoket (Seventeen) – Will she be able to hold this post for much longer? The magazine looks to be in a spot of bother as teenage readers are now turning to the internet for fashion news rather than shelling out hard earned cash for glossies. “Seventeen’s advertising pages decreased by 15.2% over the first half of 2009 when compared with the first half of 2008. And Seventeen.com’s year-over-year unique users decreased by 10.1% from July 2008 to 1 million in July 2009.”
9. Joanna Coles (Marie Claire) – You may recognize this editor from her starring role in the new reality series “Running in Heels”…one of the many fashion magazine shows making the rounds at the moment. Apparently it’s premiere set a record for the number of viewers of a Lifetime Channel production – 4.2 million viewers! Fashion sells people!
8. Kate White (Cosmopolitan) – Cosmo is in trouble. Even more trouble than Seventeen. Their ads dropped by 20% this year compared with last. Never good. But really who is reading Cosmopolitan anymore? Sex used to sell, now the articles are all the same and the fashion isn’t taken seriously.
7. Ariel Foxman (In Style) – I am actually surprised this magazine isn’t higher on the list. I have always been impressed with what In Style throws into the glossy mix. In fact I have yet to buy one of their magazines that hasn’t filled my heart with glee. The magazine has actually increased ad revenue under his watch. Well done Ariel. Keep up the good work!
6. Glenda Bailey (Harper’s Bazaar) – Bailey has also jumped on the reality show boat with “The Fashion Show” which seems to be helping the face of the magazine. I believe she should be further down the list but Forbes didn’t ask my opinion.
5. Linda Wells (Allure) – Honestly, who is writing this list? I personally do not buy Allure and have never been grabbed by one of their covers. Wells has really turned this magazine into an online success so I am not sure if that qualifies her as a success in the glossy world. I wouldn’t be surprised if Allure went completely digital in the next 5-7 years. For beauty online this really is the go to site.
4. Lesley Jane Seymour (More) – Ok, now we are talking. Here is an editor, and a magazine, that deserve a high spot on the list. So often women over the age of forty are neglected in the fashion world. We’re all about the size zero 19-year-old. Advertisers know a good thing when they see it which is why Seymour has managed to increase add revenue by 9% this year. I am in my twenties and I read this magazine for fashion and beauty tips. It says it’s for the older generation but this magazine is fantastic for all ages!
3. Robbie Myers (Elle) – Another editor promoting the magazine through reality television and a strong online presence. Do you see a pattern here?
2. Cindi Leive (Glamour) – Well this magazine is all of the sudden the most talked about on the planet after featuring a plus sized model and appearing in every newspaper and on every national television show. And now there are rumors that the whole magazine next month will feature larger ladies….hmmm….
1. Anna Wintour (Vogue) – no surprise here at all. She is the Queen of all the land and will be until she is “too angry” to continue.