When I decided to become a freelance assistant about a year and a half ago, I was sure there would be enough work to keep me busy. After all, its a learning process, so even a little money is good money. I can't say that I've starved. I have worked this year, but the older, wiser and chicer stylists tell me "It aint like it used to be"
I would assume there was a time when a girl from Pittsburgh could move to New York City and say "I want to do fashion print editorial only." But the equation it seems, goes like this: thousands of stylists and wannabes from all over the country, vying for few editorials in the few magazines that have remained in print. The fashion editors at these once revered glossy editions have been scaled back to skeleton crews and unpaid interns.
No problem, I'll just pick up fashion advertising work...that is if advertisers weren't cutting back on how much they spend resulting in fewer shoots. Okay, what about look books for designers? Nope. A public relations rep at a mutli-line showroom told me, like many others, "We are concentrating on selling to stores so were not putting out press materials for "X" line. So, the thousands of stylists who once had a one track path then compete for the scraps...sale catalogs, pharmaceutical ads in which they dress people elderly people in cardigans, etc. In summary, its all connected and when the print drops off, so do the jobs.
While online will go on since it only takes a digital image and anyone with computer, it seems we all have the same idea in mind, right? We've read countless articles on some kid blogging about fashion sitting front row at fashion week next to Ms. Anna Wintour. Some online rags are contemplating charging subscription fees for content they've been giving away for free. The just want some extra scratch in addition to relying on Prada, Gucci and Calvin Klein's high profile photographer snapped images of models in couture.
But with millions of fashion, celebrity and beauty sites, who will survive this second round of magazine dot com "boom"? When all is right with the world again and people have an extra five bucks to drop at the newsstands, will print will come back?
Indeed, its a hard knock life for us aspiring to work in fashion!
In light of the year's end, I thought we should take a look back at the publications that collapsed and the clothing lines that went with them. To me, it shall be known as the Great Fashion Crash of 2009.
PART 1 - MAGAZINES
The day the Music Died: Giant, Blender, Radar and Vibe
Photo: Giantmag.com
While its true that Blender, Giant and Vibe are music focused magazines, there were people for us stylists to dress for their covers and spreads.
Radar's print version was far different than its new TMZ style online version. Remember when Radar dressed up skeletons in couture? Maybe not so lucrative for models, but someone dressed those bones.
I remember a specific Giant cover with Ms. Jackson, Janet....if you're nasty. The African-American geared entertainment and lifestyle magazine shuttered its print edition in November. The president of Radio One which owns Giant told Ad Age "The economic downturn has had a tremendous impact on print media, and we had to make the decision to suspend printing the publication. Additionally, we recognize the increase in demand for real-time information..." To abbreviate the previous quote: sh*t is cheaper online.
Foreclosure on Homes: Metropolitan Home, Southern Accent, Domino, Country Home, O! At Home, and Home
I suppose if you're having trouble keeping your home, then you're not going to be decorating it, or your second home in the country, for that matter. If there are no proud home owners sitting at a gloriously decorated table, then there is no one to wear clothes. There are no more underwear ads between the pages of $400 blankets, no pretty women holding silver vases, or bouffant-haired beauties holding gourmet casseroles.
Speaking of Gourmet, I might as well lump the print edition of that magazine in here as well. It seems even the 68 year old foodie bible couldn't find a way to make the economical box o' wine chic.
The Wedding is Off! Elegant Bride, Modern Bride, In Style Weddings
Brides-to-be apparently are wearing their mom's old dresses and paying no attention to the newest fashions for matrimonial bliss. Or, if they are, they are not dog-earring the pages of glossies, but rather printing out photos on their home computers.
I have a particular sadness for these losses. No, it has nothing to do with a possible wedding for yours truly. One of my first magazine interviews was for Modern Bride and I am one of the In Style Special Issues alumni. My first shoot as a fashion assistant was for good ol' In Style Weddings. Sniff. Sniff.
Who's Minding the Children? Teen, Cookie and Wondertime, Nickeloden's Nick and Nick Jr.
Highlights, that magazine which eerily reminds me of childhood doctor visits is still around, but Nickeloden's kid-targeted print is not. Parents no longer have Disney's Wondertime or Conde Nast's Cookie to tell them how to bring up baby in style. I guess its back to Dr. Spock's book of parenting.
And sadly, that magazine called Teen from which some of us, not mentioning any names, tore out posters of Micheal J. Fox in an orange vest and dual colored denim, has ended its pre-pubescent 55 year reign of encouraging lust. Cosmo-Girl published its last issue in December 2008, leaving an empty spot in the hearts of teen girls every where in January 2009.
It's not Raining Men: Playgirl, Best Life, Arena
It appears men don't care about being in vogue or obtaining the best life unless its online. Additionally, no homosexual males or hetero-females want to be seen buying a magazine featuring Bristol Palin's baby daddy in the buff.
Does Anyone Care About the Little Guys? Regionals (Atlanta Life, Tampa Bay Living, Denver Living) Figure, New York Look, I.D., Craft
The great thing about capitalism is that anyone with a wish and a dream for their very own magazine about fuller figures, art or the city they love can make it happen. What is the downside of an economy based on turning a profit? Sometimes the giants win the battle.
A Meeting with "The Bobs": T Magazine, Vogue, Teen Vogue, W, Lucky, Glamour (Pretty much any print publication at Conde Nast) and Rolling Stone
The consultants came in, everyone on staff knew what this meant. Some packed up their squishy stress ball and desk lamp before announcements were made. Though, none of the above have folded, they issued pink slips to cut costs.
Rolling Stone downsized in the most literal way. The big coffee table rag went from 10 X 11.75 inches to a more portable 8 X 11.
VISIT FASHION FUNHOUSE EMPORIUM FOR "THE GREAT FASHION CRASH OF 2009 - PART 2: CLOTHING LINES THAT SHUTTERED"
