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How to Write for Fashion Magazines
Working at a fashion magazine is the first most popular option for those who want to start a career in fashion. Mainly because it’s one of the most well-known careers of this industry together with the role of the fashion designer, thanks also to the influence and exposure given by movies such as The Devil Wears Prada .
But also because let’s be honest, fashion publications are at the heart of the fashion industry. Fashion stories are everywhere. Even before digital platforms, we were already exposed to many printed fashion publications: Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, and others. Nowadays we consume fashion news without even noticing by scrolling through our Instagram feed.
Personally, fashion journalism is something that I’ve always loved. Despite I’m the CEO at Glam Observer today and I also run fashion courses with the fashion academy , I still love to cut myself some time to write weekly for Glam Observer. Thinking back to a decade ago when Glam Observer started as a blog, I can say now that I have a decade of experience as a fashion editor too! I write weekly for Glam Observer, I interview fashion industry professionals…all things that fashion editors do. Writing about fashion is not just covering fashion shows and suggesting the latest hit bag to buy or how to style your denim.
So considering its fascinating and glamorous side and all the multiple opportunities you can have by writing about fashion, let’s see how to write for fashion magazines.
What is fashion journalism.
Fashion Journalism is the field that takes care of writing and reporting about the fashion industry on different media: from print publications, glossy magazines, and newspapers to digital ones: blogs, online magazines and social media. Fashion Journalism is often defined to include writing and styling mainly because fashion is an industry that communicates through images a lot so any fashion story is normally supported by fashion images.
What do fashion journalists do?
Fashion Journalists or fashion writers are the professionals who take care of researching and writing all the fashion stories. Fashion is a vast industry and there are different publications fashion journalists can write for: from glossy magazines such as Vogue to newspapers that have fashion columns like The New York Times , to fashion magazines and online fashion blogs and websites. Writing about fashion includes many things: you can report catwalks, write about fashion trends and what celebrities are wearing, cover fashion events, and even report about the business side of the industry including marketing analysis, industry news and sustainability.
Typically a fashion journalist picks their niche: some fashion journalists write about the business side of the industry, and others always write about the latest fashion shows, while others suggest the latest products to buy for each season. More experienced fashion writers in fact have their own column (also called “vertical”) where they will write articles around a given theme or under a specific angle.
Fashion Writing Jobs
Fashion writers are among the most popular roles at a fashion magazine . There are 3 main categories of writers.
1. Fashion editor
“ Fashion Editor ” is a role that may come to mind first associated with fashion magazines, but there are specific aspects to consider about this job. While many imagine fashion editors as those who write articles for the magazine, they are often stylists taking care of the editorial content of the magazine (yes, styling the shootings, the images that you see on the issue every month or on the website). Of course, fashion editors do also write some articles that go with the editorial content, but for the biggest publications such as Vogue, there are fashion editors who mainly style (see the famous Grace Coddington for example) and there are writers (features editor, fashion news editors, digital fashion writers).
2. Staff Writer
A staff writer is someone who writes for a specific publication at the magazine’s office. They write content for all categories of the magazine, research and pitch ideas to write articles on, and conduct interviews for magazine content where necessary. They will also work closely with the Sub Editors to ensure word counts, deadlines, and overall tone of the writing are kept in line with the publication.
3. Contributor
A contributor is a freelance writer who isn’t employed as a full-time employee within the office of the magazine, but writes for multiple publications at the same time. In fact, many well-respected fashion journalists are working as freelancers selling their stories to a variety of magazines. So you are not employed by a single magazine but you collaborate or, to use the industry term, contribute to many fashion magazines: Glamour, L’Officiel, Marie Claire… as many as you can and want. Contributors will be writing articles for a magazine on a topic they have either pitched or been briefed – often under a category they specialize in as their niche.
How Much Do Fashion Journalists Make?
Fashion writing is a career with many different opportunities: you can write full-time and make a living from it, you can write on the side during the weekend or in the evening while having another job. It’s also the perfect job that you can do remotely from anywhere! So yep, if you are looking for a remote fashion job , fashion writing is the best option.
At the beginning of your freelance career, you might write for free or get paid just a little for your articles, but you are already building your name as a writer without having to spend months or years inside the fashion cupboard to be able to publish your stories.
If you learn how to do it correctly, freelancing often pays more than a staff role and you have more opportunities (you can write for magazines, write for brands, write captions for social media posts…) and freedom as you can basically work from anywhere, decide your working hours and who you want to work with. Not only good for you, but for companies as well. They don’t have many obligations to you, you are not a full-time employee so even though they might pay you the same, the cost for a company as an employee vs a freelancer is totally different, it’s more convenient hiring freelancers for a company.
Being a freelance fashion writer also comes with responsibilities.
It will be your job to find your clients aka the publications that will publish your stories. You have to pitch all of your favorite websites, newspapers, blogs, magazines… and propose your article ideas. So your job depends entirely on you and your pitching abilities. That’s why it’s a bit difficult to say exactly how much a freelance writer makes, because there is no real limit. It’s better to go the other way around and determine how much you would like to make per month, and write as many articles and for as many publications as you need to reach your goal.
As for fashion journalists who work in-house, their average annual salary in New York is $59,000, £40,000 in London, €46,000 in Milan and €47,000 in Paris. These salaries can vary depending on the magazine you work in, as some more prestigious magazines could be paying more than niche publications, as well as on your experience level.
What to study to become a fashion journalist?
Before you ask, a degree in fashion or journalism is NOT absolutely necessary to write about fashion – not even to write for Vogue . Fashion journalists and writers, even those who work at the top publications, graduated in different things: from journalism to art history, communication, political science, and even management (or if you want to take my example into consideration I’ve been writing about fashion with a management engineering degree).
You can indeed leverage a different degree to bring your unique point of view: for example, if you studied art history, you can write about culture & art sections of the magazine, write your impressions about fashion exhibitions and how fashion connects with art. If you studied business – you are welcome to write about the business side of the fashion industry, what impact it has on consumers and what’s going on in sustainability. You can become a fashion critic with any degree, really. Writing is a skill that you can learn but I believe is also a talent. You can be a talented writer because you just love reading and writing even if you graduated in something completely unrelated.
The skills you need
There are many skills worth having to write for fashion magazines, we are listing below the most common skills you can develop right now to get your dream job.
Writing skills
With time, you will have to develop your writing style and find a unique way to communicate your voice to your target audience, so that your articles are engaging and interesting to read. On top of that, your grammar and spelling must be on point from the very first moment you decide to write an article, and you need to proofread them.
Knowledge of the fashion industry and its history
You can learn the basics of fashion writing but what makes a great fashion writer is also their knowledge of this industry. You cannot write about fashion if you don’t know its history or how this industry works. Fashion journalists in fact have extensive knowledge of the fashion industry. Let’s see what are the skills you need to write for fashion magazines. Want to learn more about the fashion industry and its history? Check out our Inside the Fashion Industry course
WordPress & SEO
With digital magazines that produce more content than print issues, fashion editors and writers no longer need writing skills only but they need to complete their skillset with new technical skills. So you need to know how to upload an article online on WordPress and learn SEO (SEO = Search Engine Optimization.) to make sure that their articles rank high in the search results (aka more people find it when they Google about the topic).
Imagination and brainstorming
We live in a world saturated with information. And when you think about it, there are so many topics that have already been covered by dozens of different magazines. But that doesn’t mean you cannot write about it as well. You just need to use your imagination to bring something new to the table by writing about the same topic from a fresh, different perspective, and also coming up with new ideas of topics to write about. Be creative and get ready to brainstorm: it’s an endless process in writing.
Research skills
Regardless of what you are planning to write on, you will need to do your research. Fashion journalists are not only writers; they are also investigators who take time to research quality information – either on the spot (aka fashion shows, meeting with people to interview, visiting places to report about, etc.) or by analyzing the archives.
Pitching
Finally, in order to get a job in a fashion magazine, you need to practice your pitches to double your chances of your article to be accepted.
How to get a job at a fashion magazine?
Before starting your job search, there are things to consider.
First, decide what would work best for you – freelancing or becoming an employee?
Freelancing means that you are not employed by a single magazine but that you are paid for each article you write for one or multiple magazines at the same time. Being an employee means that you work at a single fashion magazine. There are pros and cons of each from a different salary to freedom to decide what magazines you want to work with as well as flexibility in terms of time.
Then, choose your niche.
What do you want to write about? Style? Fashion trends? Report catwalks? Beauty? Sustainability? Marketing? The business side of fashion? Interview people? Celebrities? It’s important to decide on a niche so when you have to build your writing portfolio or pitch publications you can already filter opportunities.
If you know that you want to write only about the business side of the industry you might want to prepare sample articles on this topic and you’ll start pitching only publications that are inside your niche.
If you like more options, you can write about multiple things, especially when you are freelancing or when you are at the beginning of your career. When you are hired full-time by a fashion publication you might have your column with a specific topic to write every week, but when you are freelancing you decide if you want to write about style for Vogue and about sustainability for Elle. So have to think about what you’d love to write about.
Next, choose your dream publication: are you more into print or digital?
Vogue is great but there are many other fashion magazines out there that you can write for and that you probably haven’t considered so far. So if you want to write for fashion magazines, don’t be too selective and expand the list of publications you’d like to write for. Online/digital publications are the future and they also update their websites daily so this means that they need more articles than print magazines. Almost all print publications have their own website, even Vogue. I’m pretty sure you have noticed that the articles published on vogue.com are much more than those published in the print issue each month. A digital/online fashion magazine needs 10-15 new stories every single day. So you’ll for sure have more opportunities.
If you are at the beginning of your career, working at fashion magazines means starting with an entry-level position aka internships or placement opportunities.
Giada, how can I get an internship?
Build a writing portfolio
When it comes to fashion writing, unless you are already a recognized fashion editor and your name speaks for yourself, you have to build your reputation within the industry. Even more than your Resume and Cover Letter, the thing that will get you the job is your writing portfolio. A writing portfolio is a collection of your sample articles. Why is this important? Because from your CV it’s hard to understand if you are a great writer. Especially when you don’t have any experience already and so you don’t have any fashion name on your resume. A writing portfolio will instead demonstrate practically your writing skills.
Samples articles can either be articles that you have previously published for other magazines or even articles that you have written only for your portfolio or your own fashion blog. Great articles are great articles and editors don’t mind if your amazing article is still only living on your desktop. If you can prove that you can write for that publication then you get the job even if you have zero experience.
So if you don’t have one, build your writing portfolio to show how amazing you are at writing so you can start writing for fashion magazines.
Build your online presence and share your writing samples on social media and your blog
Having your own fashion blog or Instagram page where you share about fashion is something recommended nowadays – especially to land a job at a fashion magazine because editors kind of expect you to have a sort of online presence if you want to work in fashion and become a writer. Consider creating a website with the articles you have written for other publications or even the ones you wrote for yourself and kept in your drawers.
In addition to the website, it can be a good idea to have an Instagram account where you talk about fashion : not only it is a great way to have something to add to your resume, but it’s also a valuable experience and skills to show off to potential recruiters and editors. It’s also great for you to start building some fashion experience while learning precious skills along the way: tech skills to build your website, visuals and images skills, plus your fashion tastes and knowledge.
Build a strong resume and cover letter
You may not be surprised when I tell you that you need to build a strong resume that contains keywords from the job description. A strong resume doesn’t mean it has to be long. It can be short, as long as the template is a professional one.
Editors and recruiters want to know that you are very passionate about their magazine and the position. So to express your passion for the job and bridge any experience gap you have, make sure you always attach a super strong cover letter even when it’s not required.
Pitch, pitch, pitch
Don’t fall into the trap of waiting for your favorite magazine to open a fashion writing/fashion editor position or you’ll wait forever. The best way to write for fashion magazines is by pitching. Make a list of your favorite publications, build your writing portfolio, choose 3-4 sample articles that suit that magazine to show to the editor and propose your fresh stories/ideas. Pitching /emailing directly magazines with your article ideas is the best and easiest way to write for fashion magazines. Editors love this approach because it goes straight to the point. The magazine will like or not your story (if you learn how to pitch the right stories according to the publication you’ll send only great pitches that will get accepted 80% of the time) this way both you and the editors are happy because no one is wasting time.
If you want to learn more about fashion writing and make it your career, check out our Fashion Writer Accelerator course. Now you know all the tools to become the next writer for Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar…whatever your dream publication is, I wish you the best of luck!
- Fashion editor
- fashion journalist
- fashion magazine
- fashion writer
Microsoft Excel For The Fashion Industry
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![How to design a fashion magazine like Vogue [+templates]](https://blog.flipsnack.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/How-to-design-a-fashion-magazine-like-Vogue-cover.jpg "How to design a fashion magazine like Vogue cover")
How to design a fashion magazine like Vogue [+templates]
Fashion magazines – those lifestyle trendsetters that we flip through every once in a while. They help us keep up with the latest trends of celebrities, designers, and fashion icons. W hat’s t he first magazine that comes to mind? Probably Vogue, as i t creates trends that the fashion industry follows. It’s no wonder we used it as an example for those l earning how to design a fashion magazine.
From idea to publication, there’s a long way to go . Still, fashion magazines aren’t only fun; they are also necessary in today’s digital world. Digital fashion magazines appeal to today’s digital audiences through interactive elements. V logs, video interviews, and abundant content help them trump their printed counterparts. Vogue uses its digital platforms to promote its brand, and so can you. Here’s a tutorial that shows how to make a fashion magazine in 3 minutes. Enjoy !
It may be challenging to do at that level. However, designing a digital fashion magazine like Vogue applies the magic of the online world to your benefit. So get your drawing board ready, and we’ll take you through the entire process and then some. Learning how to make a fashion magazine is one thing. Doing it in digital format requires some knowledge of how digital marketing works. Let’s explore the hidden world of fashion magazine creation and make your own digital version with less hassle. But first, we’ll need to cover our basis.
Digital fashion magazines are improved versions of printed fashion magazines designed, published, and distributed online on a platform and stored on servers. Additionally, audiences can read digital fashion magazines on electronic devices like computers, tablets, or mobile phones.
Publishing digital fashion magazines instead of their physical counterparts comes with some benefits. Not the least important are the financial and environmental incentives. In terms of aesthetics, knowing how to make a fashion magazine digital enriches your issues with features that offer an immersive reading experience.
When digital magazines were first produced in the 1980s, they were known as diskzines (or diskmags). Publishers distributed them through floppy disks sent in the post that readers would enjoy at home on their computers. It may surprise you, but those executable program magazines included animations, music, and other forms of multimedia.
Vogue, the fashion magazine that the fashion industry follows, ventured into the digital world later. The technology wasn’t available in average households. Still, Vogue doesn’t only set fashion trends but marketing trends as well. It does not shy away from revolutionary changes either.
For Vogue to become the magazine that sets fashion trends worldwide, it didn’t only need great photography, fashion articles, and well-dressed models. Arthur Baldwin Turnure, the founder of Vogue, knew how to make a fashion magazine stand out because it gave more than people expected from a fashion magazine, pushing boundaries in both fashion and culture.
Throughout its 130-year tenure, Vogue collected a series of firsts , showcasing and creating groundbreaking moments:
- In 1926, the magazine debuted Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress;
- In 1967, the Yves Saint Laurent iconic Le Smoking Tuxedo, designed for women;
- In 1988 they paired haute couture with a pair of jeans;
- In 1998 they featured a First Lady on the cover.
From 1892 to the present day, Vogue grew into an internationally acclaimed magazine commonly referred to as the Fashion Bible. The magazine’s history entered pop culture through the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated movie “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Vogue worked with the biggest brands across the web when the digital age came along. Influencers, celebrities, and social media’s power helped it steadily adapt to the online world. By mixing mediums and providing content to subscribers worldwide, Vogue continues to be more than just a fashion magazine. At the same time, it upholds its reputation as the Number One fashion publication. No wonder we chose it as an example for an article to teach you how to make a fashion magazine.
Fashion magazines in the digital revolution
Over the past few years, industries had to expedite their digital transformation as the pandemic precipitated this need. Transitioning to online channels, adapting the value chain, and reconsidering traditional ways of doing business proved particularly distressing for the fashion industry.
Still, digitalization wasn’t a new concept for the industry, brands, and retailers. They either became digital leaders or laggards regarding online sales. Implementing these changes resolved long-time issues that the industry was facing. Furthermore, the versatility of digital fashion magazines outweighs the best of what is available through print. One only needs to look at what digital commerce shows and see the limitless possibilities of digital solutions. Through that, we can understand how the industry can benefit from its digitalization.
Digital commerce
E-commerce took over the market in a big way in 2021. 43% of consumers who had never made online purchases went digital for the first time. Furthermore, 30% of Gen Z and 36% of Millennial consumers are less likely to shop in-store in the future. Stores go directly online.
If brands know how to make fashion magazines digital, it’s easier to reach their audience. 73% of teenagers in the US specified the easiest way to reach them with fashion trends is through social media. Particularly Instagram. Of course, you can quickly promote digital content on social media, but we’ll tackle that aspect later in this article.
Digital solutions
The fashion industry is the second-largest polluting industry, but they are implementing steps to lower this standing. Consumers’ behavior changed with the demand for increased brand responsibility. Climate awareness pushes for lower carbon emissions, and print does the opposite. Fashion magazines can be the first step towards green marketing and benefit from it.
A digital fashion magazine doesn’t only feature exciting articles and stunning models but a wide range of interactions. For example, readers can order products directly from the photograph, and 3D rendering shows them clothing articles from all angles. Additionally, blockchain technology takes transparency to new heights for sustainable, conscious consumers.
The digital transformation of fashion magazines benefits the fashion industry, its creators, and readers in one fell swoop. An added benefit comes with including functionalities. These can track the readers’ experience and perception of each issue, but more on this later. So let’s see how you can easily make one yourself.
How to create a fashion magazine in the digital era?
We’ve shared some general information about what a fashion magazine is. We also went over Vogue’s role as a trendsetter in cultural growth. We can see how the industry has changed in the digital age. Now we’ll go over how this affects the creation of digital fashion magazines.
Vogue managed this transition into digital mediums and is one of the most popular publications. So it’s no wonder it’s a success story people want to recreate. That is why you came here. To learn how to make a digital magazine online . Up next, you’ll find ten steps you can follow if you’re wondering how to start your own fashion magazine.
- Come up with a plan for your digital fashion magazine
- Follow the trend with your content
- Draft your digital fashion magazine guide
- Build your fashion magazine cover
- Make your fashion magazine pop with interactive elements
- Tell a story through typography
- Spark emotion through photography
- Create a masterpiece through colors
- Proofread the typos out of it
- Promote your digital fashion magazine
Let’s see what these steps imply and figure out how to create a digital fashion magazine.
1. Come up with a plan for your digital fashion magazine
Before you start designing a fashion magazine, you should look for inspiration in other fashion magazines, online or printed. You can find exciting ideas such as cool type combinations, catchy layouts, or inspiration for a trendy color palette.
We recommend you use a mood board . This collage consists of images, typefaces, and colors, which will help you define the style of your fashion magazine. This technique will boost creativity, help you stay more organized, find new ideas and keep the same mood throughout the entire fashion magazine. With that out of the way, you need to go behind the scenes.
Identifying your target audience is the key to a successful fashion magazine. First, ask yourself who reads these magazines and what interests them. The content of your fashion magazine will be dedicated to some types of readers. Therefore, you must define your reader persona and tailor your magazine to them. How old are your readers? What are their purchasing patterns? Do they consume online or offline content? Answer these questions and others to target your audience better. This is essential in understanding your market and catering to their needs.
Tracking and measuring your reader’s behavior is simplified through extra functionalities. This will enable you to identify popular content, time spent by readers on each page, and interactivities they engage with. Use this information related to your audience to adapt your buyer persona and content to their needs for future issues. Then, start by establishing a direction for your content.
2. Follow the trend with your content
For fashion magazines, the content is critical. It has to be catchy to grab the attention of the audience. The readers always look for something new, and you should rise above their expectations. Take a look at the topics commonly featured in Vogue for examples of articles you can find in fashion magazines:
- Vogue presents the latest trends of the season creatively. Haute couture fashion gives the spark, while runway shows bring the newest trends into the spotlight;
- Beauty tips and tricks is where you can find suggestions on how to look better and what products to use;
- Articles about people in the fashion industry or interviews with celebrities cover the cultural side of the Fashion Bible;
- Health and care is where you can find recipes, lifestyle advice, and information on how to keep a balanced diet. This covers the human side of fashion and the people that enjoy it.
3. Draft your digital fashion magazine guide
The fashion magazine design should structure all the information to interest the reader. Establish guidelines and voice for your written content to help writers adhere to them for brand consistency . Uniformity goes a long way in nurturing a healthy relationship with your readers while you build your brand. When you start designing the layout, you must know the basic elements of a magazine page layout or spread. Here are the most important page elements:
Write an attractive headline and place it at the top of the page to get the attention it deserves. It should be bigger than the rest of the text, so the reader will know which is the most important. Looking through Vogue magazine archives, you’ll understand how to organize your texts. You will create a hierarchy for the different content blocks based on importance. For them, headlines stand out on top of photography to connect the visuals with the story. The two often seemed fused, but there’s no way to mistake any other body of text with the headline.
There are four critical aspects of a successful headline. First, creativity catches the reader’s attention, making your content stand out. Secondly, a clear and engaging angle gives the reader an idea of what they can expect in the body copy. They’ll understand why they should read your article, making it stand out from the rest. Third, emotional language provides connection on an emotional level, which is the best way to engage your readers. Finally, you need to leave your readers wanting more.
While it’s essential to be clear about your angle from the headline, don’t say it all through it. You want your readers to know what the article is about from the headline but also read the entire article. That’s your end goal. So give them a teaser that leaves them wanting more.
Intro (kicker)
The intro, also known as a kicker, additional headline, stand-first, or deck, should be distinct from the introduction. It works as a short, one-two summary sentence of the article. From it, the reader should get a tiny hint of what the article contains and sense its tone. You capture the reader’s attention through the intro and create a strong connection between the headline and body copy.
The size of the kicker should be smaller than the headline and bigger than the body copy. It can be a different font, like the typography from Vogue issues. The headline is bold and resembles the Impact font, while the intro is a lighter Times New Roman style. The content of the intro works like an extension of the headline. Still, it doesn’t duplicate it. The intro provides a deeper understanding. Today’s audience skims and flips articles and needs the incentive to continue reading the body copy.
The body copy
Once you hook your audience, you follow through with the body copy. This section represents the largest part of the article. When you design a template, it should be the first thing to start with. Set the right size for margins, columns, and the text itself. You decide the body copy size depending on your audience’s preferences and how you make your fashion magazine layout design.
The format of the body copy comes in paragraphs. Still, a large body copy can become scrollable for digital magazines if the template can’t make it fit. You should choose a font family for your magazine that is unobtrusive and easy to read. Serif font is best for print, while Sans Serif font fits digital formats. Keep show-off fonts for the headline, intro, pull quotes, or any other text that needs to draw the eye.
Throughout this section, you address your readers, so the content must answer any questions related to the subject. Research is detrimental, and you should use adjectives sparingly. This is the section where you discuss the topic, and there’s little need for embellishments. The primary function of the body copy is to deliver on the promises of the heading and intro. It starts with a clear and concise introduction to the subject. Then, the body copy will address the issue, offer details, and provide informative content. Include subheadings, bullet points, and graphics in the body copy if the content demands to entice your readers further. When you include quotations, use credible sources and valuable quotes.
Keep it concise and to the point. The body copy serves to inform readers and help them form an opinion on the subject. Finally, wrap it all together in a simple format that allows other elements to stand out.
Pull quotes are trendy. They are an attractive fashion magazine design element that you have a lot of freedom to play with. To help them stand out from the body copy, set pull quotes in a different font or design style. They don’t need to fall in line with the rest of the text. Place them between the body copy, enclose them within paragraphs or columns of text. They can also be a part of the text but highlighted with a visual element to help them stand out.
Pull quotes can add a different dimension to a magazine article. They can convey the article’s essential or exciting part to your readers. Make pull quotes out from the body copy as emphasis, verbatim, or create a summary of the body copy with different words as an excerpt.
Image caption
Pieces of text accompanying and offering details about images are known as image captions. They appear in fashion magazines often because they provide the relevant information the reader needs about photography. It is usually placed over the image or below it. Font, size, and style-wise, the image caption can be the same as the body copy. Still, to avoid confusion, make them slightly smaller. Additionally, image captions work as accessibility features for visually impaired audiences.
4. Build your fashion magazine cover
The fashion magazine cover is one of the most important parts, and you must design it to be attractive. While the content of your magazine builds the audience, the cover drives the audience to buy your fashion magazine. Readers base their purchasing decision on how attractive your cover design is. Therefore, the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” does not apply to magazines.
You probably noticed that most fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Cosmopolitan use the same rule in the cover design. They include a background picture – the portrait of a fashion icon, a model, or a celebrity. Use their vast archive for inspiration and learn from the best. Research is the first step in designing a cover that will sell subscriptions. Keep your reader persona in mind as you start the cover design. This will help you efficiently target your audience.
When choosing the cover text, there is one that will always be the same: the masthead. Looking at any Vogue magazine, you’ll find the masthead at the top of the cover as it’s the magazine’s name. Established brands use the same style, font, and size, changing the color occasionally to fit better with the cover image. The additional text should be relevant to the fashion magazine content. Still, a simple design is better if you aim for elegance. Next, use titles to tease articles, quotes for interviews, and cover photos and names for celebrities.
The cover has to be eye-catching. You can play with different photography techniques. Choose colors and styles carefully to highlight the text, and ensure they work with the cover photo. You have to make the audience curious about it and keep it snappy because that’s how they will buy it.
5. Make your fashion magazine pop with interactive elements
In this digital era, more and more magazines and books are using digital publishing to extend their audience. If you publish your fashion magazine online, people can read it, regardless of where they are. They can also access features unavailable in print because print is static. Print lets you flip the pages, and that’s it.
If you choose to publish your fashion magazine online, we recommend you take advantage of what digital publishing offers. One of the things it provides is interactivity . Making your publications interactive will keep your users engaged and interested in your content. This is a cool idea because you’ll lower the risk of boring your readers. But besides flipping through your fashion magazine, a digital fashion magazine provokes readers to engage with the content.
Enhance your digital fashion magazine with runway videos or gifs for an immersive experience. Include a brief interview with top designers your readers can listen to while looking at their creations. With interactive buttons, you can take any advert to the next level. Giving your readers the option to purchase the items promoted in your magazine. Add social media buttons that take them to your fashion magazine’s online profiles or the celebrities featured in your issue. Give your readers more ways to access digital content. The spotlight effect makes it possible to see detailed images. Make a slideshow if you want to showcase more photographs than your template allows. These interactions and more will make your fashion magazine design more attractive to readers.
6. Tell a story through typography
In marketing, typography tells readers what they are reading and why that part of the text is essential. Its function is to influence how audiences process information by engaging them. In addition, typography in marketing is used to set a hierarchy and establish the relationship between various text elements.
For fashion magazines, this is made clear from the cover’s masthead. Vogue’s masthead is part of its brand. From style to letter spacing and size, their masthead is set in stone and unlikely to change. It remains the same across the brand’s publications in print or digital format.
Vogue uses a different style of typefaces than Seventeen. The target audience determines the difference. People who read Vogue are between 20-40 yrs old, so the typefaces are more elegant, classy, and sophisticated. The Seventeen magazine uses extravagant and explosive typefaces focusing on younger audiences. Throughout the article, in digital fashion magazines and overall digital formats, typography differentiates. You’ll use H1, H2, and H3 tags to differentiate the text. The first is the most important (title), the second is next in line (kicker), and so on. At the same time, bolded, italicized, underlined, or capitalized text highlights important content, usually within the body copy.
Branding utilizes typography for consistency purposes throughout a magazine’s marketing materials. Creating typography guidelines ensures that all writers follow the same pattern, despite employee turnover. This also covers the company’s logo, size, spacing, colors, and font families. Ensure you have a license for the fonts you use or the right to use them for free. As a visual element, typography plays a role in aesthetics and complements photography for a seamless design.
7. Spark emotion through photography
When you flip through a fashion magazine, you notice the models’ beautiful photos. Photo shooting usually has a concept behind it, and photographers with lots of experience behind them take the photos. So if you want to make a fashion magazine, don’t use stock images. Use professional photos. You can notice the types of visuals used by magazines like Vogue from fashion magazine templates . High-quality photography is essential for fashion magazines, and investing in visuals is not a waste. One bad image can ruin an otherwise qualitative issue so take your time and money to avoid this.
If you are a designer or an artist and know how to use a DSLR camera, go ahead and experiment. Your photos might not look like those taken by the great photographers of Vogue, and that’s ok. Surely you can still make something awesome, creative, and unique. A keen eye can help you capture the right imagery for your piece. Editing software can enhance the quality of your photos through filters.
8. Create a masterpiece through colors
Color represents an important element in designing your fashion magazine. In fact, about 85% of your buying decisions are influenced by colors. Therefore, you should respect colors when you learn how to make a fashion magazine. If you have brand colors to include, work them in your style guide. Still, you need to establish a color scheme for your magazine that your team can consult.
Usually, a color scheme can include 5 to 10 colors, hues, and shades. The colors used for the cover should be tones that appear in the main photograph to create harmony. They can also contrast it to give a different feeling or highlight. Dark on light or vice-versa, matching or complementing the photograph are ways to ensure your cover captures your audience’s attention. You should also keep in mind that there’s a psychological science to colors as they provoke emotional reactions.
The color scheme isn’t limited to two or three nuances. Colors and shades will be used throughout the magazine, not only on the cover. Considering the photographs you will use, lee-way goes a long way to ensure brand consistency and a smooth design. These can be used in magazines to highlight headlines, quotes, and the first letter in each paragraph. They can also homogenize the photographs within the magazine’s pages and blend the whole issue.
When it comes to color, less is more, as too many shades, hues and colors can distract from the content. After all, Vogue established itself as the Fashion Bible partly due to its color use. Simple, elegant, classy, and marvelous. Choosing complementary, analogous, or monochrome color schemes can be bold yet elegant, which is what fashion magazines are all about.
9. Proofread the typos out of it
You must check your work when you design a fashion magazine, a poster, or anything else. Fix all the mistakes. If you leave them in your fashion magazine, they will not look professional and harm your credibility. Check all your articles for spelling errors and interactive features to ensure they all work as they should. Then, go back to your brand guidelines to verify if your fashion magazine content adheres to them.
Once you edit it, give the magazine to another person for proofreading. You’re used to the content and might not notice subtle errors. Contact professional proofreaders or editors, if possible, to review the content and cover all your bases. To promote your business through relevant and impactful content, you must ensure that your digital fashion magazine is foolproof. Only then publish and send your digital fashion magazine.
Those that know how to make a fashion magazine and how complex of a process it can be will appreciate that they can easily correct any typos in their digital fashion magazine content. It doesn’t matter if the issue has already reached its audience. You can fix these small mistakes under the same link that went to their readers under their subscription. You don’t need to share it again. The content will synchronize. Still, let’s see how you share it in the first place and make it reach your audience.
10. Promote your digital fashion magazine
Now that you know how to create a fashion magazine, we can discuss promoting your masterpiece. Marketing a digital fashion magazine is quite different from dealing with the distribution channels of printed publications.
First, you don’t need to worry about the number of copies you print, how the postal office works, and none of those transportation issues. All you need to do is share, make it visible, and promote it through the right channels. But what are those? We’ll start with the leading players and follow with ways to build an audience for your digital fashion magazine.
Social media influencers
Social media influencers took over online content. They did this with controversy regarding their involvement in perpetuating trends and promoting content. Unfortunately, even the Fashion Bible was late in accepting these alternative content promoters. This time, the consensus was that Vogue needed to get in touch with the speed of digital evolution. Once their “73 Questions with …” came online, however, they understood the power these promoters hold.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok can be used as fashion magazines to promote products or the magazine itself. Influencers are curating clothing lines and bringing them to the viewers’ fingertips, quite literally. Hence, influencers are integrated into marketing strategies as digital solutions because authenticity and transparency are key elements for consumers. Even YouTube remains a powerful social media tool despite the short attention span of younger generations. It’s the second-best search engine online.
These fast-paced, highly-competitive, and digitally-focused influencers create a space for content and reach consumers worldwide. As a result, after years of building their own brands, fashion magazines can reach untapped audiences through influencers. Fashion magazines don’t need to create additional content for these platforms. The influencers are doing it.
Build an audience
Make use of every channel available to promote it. Start with a premier edition that you offer for free on social media and other online platforms. In exchange for this free edition, ask for email addresses to follow up with an invite to subscribe. Next, building a website will help promote your content through search engine optimization, allowing you to embed your fashion magazine. Finally, post compelling content on social media to promote your main articles and get people to engage with your magazine. The more people interact with your content on multiple channels, the more connected your audience will be with your magazine. Now you know some important steps to designing a fashion magazine like Vogue. Follow these principles, but don’t forget to be creative and always try to make something new. The only thing left is finding a home for your magazine; we’ve just the place for you.
How to design a fashion magazine like Vogue with Flipsnack
It takes a lot of planning to create a digital fashion magazine. Still, once you go through the steps described above, you will reach the final part. Taking all of that work and putting it to good use.
Transitioning to digital publishing may pose a few challenges, but giving up on print has its benefits. Your production and distribution costs will drop, different digital tools will enhance your print format, and you’ll go from static print to an interactive publication that will inspire your readers. It’s not always easy, but Flipsnack simplifies the process by giving you access to the best features available on the market.
Through Flipsnack, you can use various routes to reach your goal. Still, the go-to methods for designing the best digital fashion magazines on the market are easy to use in just a few simple steps.
How to create a fashion magazine with PDF upload
With a magazine in PDF format, you can upload it in record time in Flipsnack. Once uploaded, you can transform it into an immersive reading experience for your viewers. You can even upload several PDFs simultaneously if you’ve been proactive with your fashion magazine content.
- Add interactivities
One of the best things about Flipsnack is that it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Anything can become interactive with imagination, creativity, and the features available. Gone are the days of static PDFs that spark little interest in readers. In comes the age of videos, GIFs, slideshows, music, pop-ups, and tags, among many others.
- Share it with the world
Once your digital fashion magazine is published, all it takes is one link you can post anywhere. Social media platforms, your website, and your monthly newsletter will be your distribution channels, and copy/paste your postman. It’s that simple.
How to create a fashion magazine with templates
Are you without a PDF-format magazine? No worries. Pick a fashion magazine template from our library and personalize it with your brand and design ideas. You can change anything to fit what you imagined and create a brand kit to ensure consistency throughout your magazine’s future issues.
Now it’s time you drag & drop your own content because Flipsnack is that easy to use. Replace the visuals with your own and update any written content that will hook your readers in. Interactivities will give them an immersive experience like the printed version will never be able to.
From start to finish, Flipsnack takes care of all the stages of publication and even further in distribution. You can easily share or embed your digital fashion magazine through links and connect it to various selling platforms.
Fashion magazine design templates
As we already mentioned the possibility of using ready-made templates, below, you’ll find some fashion magazine templates available through Flipsnack. If you’re interested in how they work, take a closer look. Get an idea of what is possible through our Design Studio and choose your favorite. Then, it’s time to start designing your digital fashion magazine.
Fashion Magazine Layout Template
Color schemes go a long way in creating a theme for a fashion magazine. They work together to ensure the whole issue blends together. With this fashion magazine layout template , your photography either provides a harsh contrast or follows the overall theme.
The infusion of pink isn’t for everyone. You can easily change it along with any other element, whether a picture, text, font, or size. So, while a monochrome fashion magazine design fits the industry, you can mix and match different colors. Find what fits your brand or style of your choice. Then, customize and share it with your audience through social media or your newsletter.
Modern Fashion Magazine Template
Simplicity in design infuses this modern fashion magazine template with elegance. By sticking to a black & white color scheme, minimalism allows the occasional pop of color to highlight important elements. We chose red, the color of feminine rebellion, for a stylish fashion magazine.
Designing contrasting visuals makes it simple to highlight the aspects that we want to bring attention to. You can add interactive elements on a black & white template without worrying about overcrowding the design. Fashion isn’t aesthetically complicated, and your digital fashion magazine doesn’t need to be either. Customize it with your visuals, texts, typography, and style. Then share it with the world through a link and a few clicks.
Free Fashion Magazine Template
Through a warmer neutral pallet, you infuse a sense of calm. This free fashion magazine template also matches this through its photography. Customize it with your content to soothe your audience through elegance and tranquility.
This fashion magazine template matches the color theme from the photography and text. It keeps a simple overall design to maintain elegance. Still, you can change it, however you like to fit your brand style. The fashion industry can be soothing and exciting as styles differ based on the designer. But elegance is combined with innocence through neutral pastels in this fashion design template, taking readers into a dream-like atmosphere. Customize it with your content and share your creation in your monthly newsletter and social media.
Fashion Magazine Layout Template Editable
An adjective commonly used to describe fashion is bold, especially those designs that break frontiers. This fashion magazine layout template editable and provides content for those that want to push the boundaries of fashion.
Become a trendsetter through this fearless fashion magazine template, as bold statements require a bold design. Question the status quo and keep your readers on edge as they flip through your fashion magazine issue. This fashion magazine template is not for the faint-hearted. Still, you can make it more approachable by changing the design and adding your content and visuals. People are waiting for a new fashion magazine so give it to them through a simple link.
Seeing as you have a magazine now, once you understand how the digital magazine world works, we take you through the monetary incentives of learning how to make a fashion magazine in the digital era. There’s no reason to limit your profits to subscriptions when other mediums can generate earnings for online fashion magazines.
Here are a few that you can implement in your marketing strategy:
- Register your digital fashion magazine on apps and newsstands like Issuu, Zinio, and Magzter;
- Sell your digital fashion magazine on your website through WooCommerce;
- Post it through Shopify to sell copies and subscriptions;
- Sell it for mobile readers through Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
You can sell advertisements to gain revenue in the form of page spaces. Another advertising option is sponsored articles featuring products, brands, or people. This is less evident and gives you the creative freedom to include the ad on your terms. You can smoothly connect it with a topic of interest. Your revenue can grow or stagnate depending on how well you manage your revenue channels. However, let’s see how much money you’ll have to invest to get any revenue.
The cost of a digital fashion magazine truly depends on the budget you want to spend. It can vary between $0 and hundreds of thousands of dollars. From developing to launching a digital fashion magazine, costs can add up fast, but you could also do it independently. Still, while most of us don’t have all the skills necessary to make a fashion magazine from start to finish, hiring a full staff of employees may not be cost-effective from the get-go.
While a full editorial team incurs significant expenses, you can work with freelancers on Upwork or Fiverr, guest writers, and photographers that exchange content for publicity. For a tight budget, use online tools to edit images, and use free stock photos (although we don’t promote this). Launching a website to promote your fashion magazine in WordPress gives you a domain name and hosting for $2.59.
The baseline is the more you can do yourself, the more affordable your fashion magazine will be. Invest where you have to and take it one step at a time. The more professional your magazine looks, the more revenue it can gain. Still, don’t throw all your money in at once. Make a plan about it and spend wisely.
Push the boundaries in a digital future
While the fashion industry is going through its digital transformation, the marketing side of this industry is following through. It implements features unavailable in the non-digital world. Interconnectivity provided by digital publications makes it possible for these digital fashion magazines to reach anyone, anywhere in the world.
Learning how to create a fashion magazine in the digital era takes practice. The benefits far outweigh the costs, which are also far lower than for published magazines. Keep up with the trends in fashion or create those trends as Vogue has done for over a century. Stay connected with your audience and give them easy access to your digital fashion magazine. Follow the steps described above, make it interactive, and give your readers an experience they will get hooked on. They’ll look forward to the next fashion icon expose or fashion designer catwalk debut.
Once you create your digital fashion magazine, get your readers to subscribe to your fashion magazine. The issue will reach them through something as simple as a link. Whether on their phones, isolated at home, on vacation, or on a remote island, the latest magazine will reach them. All without adding to your distribution costs.
16 Comments
Hi Jani, Thank you so much for this post, it is exactly what I was looking for. Very insightful for some like me who is looking to start a Magazine in Lagos Nigeria. I was wondering If you would be open to a few questions. Maybe we can chat via email?
Hi Rini and thank you! Sure, you can email me at jani [at] flipsnack.com
Thanks for the guide and post.
Very helpful just what i needed , i am re-branding my fashion magazine in Ghana/ Nigeria.
Hi Jani, Nice post, I like this post very much. I love to read your post, Some points like “The cover of the fashion magazine” and “color palette” are awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the tips.soon am going to make mine because am so interested in this
It’s interesting that you talked about choosing a font based on the audience that reads it. I want to work for a magazine company in the future. It would be smart to gear what I write towards a target audience because it would keep people engaged.
Great tips for designing a magazine. Thanks for all this. I highly appreciate your efforts
Good Informative content about Open Magazine like Fashion. Every thing Detailed with steps. Magazine cover Picture, Cover lines is more Important and a part of starting ang making a successful magazine & Vogue. Nice…
In your “Check Twice” paragrah ought “because you’re used with the content” be “because you’re use to the content”?
Otherwise absolutely the best straight forward post I have seen in this topic. Thank you for sharing.
You’re right Rondi, thank you for your comment! I will correct it right away!
I love these guide.. for design magazine lovers these great guide very helpful. Just thanks for given opportunity to read this.
I love reading through a post that can make people think. Also, thank you for permitting me to comment!
hey there!! Exactly what i was looking for. thank u for this.
it is super helpful, these small videos of flip snack .
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Fashion Articles: How To Write About Fashion, Tips For Beginners
D o you want to start writing about fashion but don’t know where to begin? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we will give you tips on how to get started.
We will also provide some advice on how to improve your writing skills. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer, read on for helpful tips and information!
What makes a great fashion article
Anyone can put together a stylish outfit, but it takes a special eye to write an amazing fashion article. Here are five things that every great fashion article should have:
- A strong point of view : An effective article on this topic should have a clear point of view, whether it’s pro-fashion or critical of the industry. It’s important to be able to articulate your position in a way that engages readers.
- Original insights : An excellent article on fashion should offer readers something they haven’t seen before. This could be an insider’s perspective on the industry, or a new take on a classic style. Either way, readers should come away feeling like they’ve learned something new.
- Well-researched information : It should be based on solid research. This means verifying facts, quotes, and statistics, and including sources whenever possible.
- Powerful storytelling : A great fashion article should tell a compelling story that captivates readers from start to finish. This could be a personal story about your own style journey, or an investigation into the dark side of the fashion industry. Either way, it’s important to keep readers engaged.
- Impeccable grammar : A fashion article should be well-written and free of errors. This is important for any type of writing, but especially crucial for fashion writing, which is often judged on its aesthetics. Make sure to proofread your work carefully before hitting publish!
Tips for beginner writers
- Start with a plan . Before you start writing, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to say. Otherwise, you may end up going off on tangents and wasting time. Sit down and brainstorm your topic before you start writing.
- Keep it simple . When you’re first starting out, it’s important to keep your writing simple. Use short sentences and clear language. Overcomplicating your writing will only make it more difficult to understand.
- Be specific . Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to start being more specific. Use strong verbs and concrete nouns to bring your writing to life. painting vague pictures with your words will only confuse your reader.
- Use a plagiarism checker . Plagiarism is a serious issue in the writing world, so it’s important to make sure that your work is original. Before you submit your work anywhere, run it through a plagiarism checker to ensure that it doesn’t contain any copied content. This way, you will be able to rest assured that your article stays original and that you don’t get in trouble. By following these tips, you’ll become a successful writer in no time, you’ll see! Plus, your readers will thank you for it. Happy writing!
- Edit ruthlessly . Even the best writers need to edit their work. Don’t be afraid to cut out whole sections that don’t work or rearrange your paragraphs to better flow. Remember, editing is an essential part of the writing process.
- Get feedback . Show your work to friends or family members and ask for their honest feedback. They may catch errors that you missed or have helpful suggestions for improving your work. Just make sure not to take constructive criticism personally—it’s meant to help you grow as a writer.
- Use active voice . Active voice is more powerful and easier to read than passive voice. When possible, use active voice constructions such as “I wrote this article” instead of passive voice constructions like “This fashion article was written by me.”
Examples of well-written fashion articles
There are countless examples of well-written fashion articles out there. But what makes a great fashion article? For starters, it should be well researched and informative, providing readers with an insider’s look at the latest trends. It should also be written in an engaging and accessible style, with a strong voice that draws readers in. Also, a good fashion article should be visually appealing, featuring stunning photos and layout.
In “The 12 Best Dressed Women in the World,” British Vogue takes an international approach to analyzing style. The article features beautiful photographs of each woman and offers thoughtful commentary on why they made the list.
Similarly, “Top Sustainable Fashion Voice” from Goshopia spotlights the most influential figures in the industry. These pieces are just a few examples of the great work being done in the world of fashion writing. So whether you’re looking for inspiration or simply want to enjoy some amazing reading.
Fashion articles can be both fun and challenging to write. But with a clear plan and these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating fantastic fashion pieces. Don’t forget to edit ruthlessly, use active voice, and avoid plagiarism at all costs. Happy writing!
Author Bio:
Karl Bowman is a freelance fashion writer and blogger. He is a regular contributor to Goshopia and has also been featured in Vogue and InStyle magazines.
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FASHION , LIFESTYLE · November, 20
How to Pitch to a Fashion Magazine
By: Lauryn Jiles
Are you a freelance writer looking to gain more experience? Ever wondered how writers manage to get published in huge mastheads like Essence, Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, and other well-known fashion publications? While it may seem complicated, getting published in reputable magazines is actually more simple than some may think. So if you’re looking for a side gig that makes good money, then pitching to and writing for publications is a great option! Here are a few steps to ensuring that your pitch or idea will be chosen for major publications.
Contact the right editor
Making sure you are contacting the right editor for your pitch is one of the most important key points to remember! Don’t just contact any editor for your pitch. For example, if you’re pitching a beauty article, contact the beauty editor and if you’re writing a fashion piece, contact the fashion editor.
To find contact information for the editor you want to pitch, look up the publication’s masthead. If the masthead does not list the editor’s names and/or work emails, then go to the publication’s company page on Linkedin and use the site’s filters to search for editors at the company. Searching on Twitter and Instagram can also help, as a lot of editors will put their work email in their bio.
- If you want to pitch to a Conde Nast publication ( Vogue, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Allure , etc.), editor email formats are usually [email protected]
- For Hearst publications ( Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Seventeen , etc.) editor email formats are usually [email protected]
- For Essence , editor email formats are usually the initial of their first name and their last name @essence.com.
Have a solid pitch
Having a solid pitch is key to getting published in a major publication. Make sure that your pitch is relevant, fits well on their website, and is something that you think their readers would be intrigued in. Different publications require different articles. Some may focus more on trends, while others may focus more on fashion news or celebrity style. Take some time to read the articles on each publication’s website to familiarize yourself with their content and get an idea of what you’d like to pitch.
Keep it short and sweet
Keep your pitches short and straight to the point. Editors are very busy and do not have the time to read multiple paragraphs. Introduce yourself, tell the editor what your pitch is and give a brief description of what you plan on including the article. Do not give away too much information about what you want to include in the article. Just give them a general idea of what the article is about. Also, do not send them an entire article as a pitch. They will most likely not have the time to read it, and if they do not accept it then you’ve basically written an entire article for nothing.
Some publications may also have guidelines that they want their writers to follow, so it’s best not to send them an entire article until your pitch has been approved and follows the correct guidelines for the publication. If you want to pitch an article highlighting trends, style, or anything relevant, feel free to include a few photos of what you want to highlight in your email if you want the editor to get more of a visual perspective of your pitch.
Address editors by their name and always be professional
While this tip may sound like common sense, in a digital age sometimes it’s easy to forget these things. Make sure you are addressing the editor by their name, meaning you are putting, Dear Mr. or Mrs. Last Name. If you are unsure of the editor’s pronouns, then address them by their first and last name. Make sure you sound professional in your email and that you are putting the correct name of the publication in your email. Always sign off with “Sincerely, your name” at the end of the email. You can also choose to include a writing sample or two at the end of your in case the editor wants to view your work. Double-check your spelling and grammar before hitting send.
Oftentimes, editors’ inboxes are flooded with pitches and their own work assignments, so they may miss your original email. After a few days of no response, send them a follow-up asking if they received your email and reiterate why you think your pitch would be great for the publication. I’d suggest only following up once or twice, as you don’t want to constantly have to follow up about your pitch.
Don’t get discouraged if they reject your pitch
Last but not least, do not get discouraged if your pitch is rejected. You will probably hear many no’s before receiving a yes. If your pitch is rejected, make sure to respond to the editor thanking them for getting back to you. Keep trying and don’t give up! Try coming up with more pitches to send into publications, and eventually, someone will like your idea and want you to write for them! Stay positive! If you get rejected by one publication, try pitching that same idea to another one. Sometimes pitches are a better fit for other publications.
If you’d like to pitch a story for Madame Blue, click here for details .
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FreelanceWriting
Established Since 1997
Freelance Writing Jobs
Writing contests, make money writing, hottest topics, top 10 topics to pitch to shopping & style magazines.
Writing for style and shopping magazines is one of the most lucrative niches for freelance writers. These magazines target high-net-worth and high profile individuals and celebrities. They serve as the ultimate shopping guides, offering the latest news in celebrity fashion, makeup, style and hair makeovers.
Shopping/style magazines mostly target women who are college educated and have a “disposable” income. The average age is from 18 to 60 years old. Why such a huge gap in ages? Baby boomers want to look younger, and young women want to stay young. These avid shoppers crave the latest shopping trends to lavish their lifestyles. Not only do they want to look young and feel young, but they also want to live the “glamour and glitz” lifestyle. Besides investing in fashion, apparel and purses, they also share a passion to improve their homes with the latest and greatest kitchen accessories, furniture, and portable technologies.
You may be familiar with a few of the shopping and style magazines that stare back at you as you wait in line at the supermarket; they include: InStyle magazine, Lucky magazine, Ohio women’s magazine, OK Magazine, Flare magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and so on. The top magazine that owns this category is Lucky magazine , published by Condé Nast .
What articles are in demand?
As a freelance writer, you need to embrace the celebrity life because celebrities—like Oprah Winfrey , Kim Kardashian , and Lady Gaga —greatly influence consumer shopping, especially women between 18 and 30 years old. Even reality shows like Project Runway , Real Housewives of New Jersey , and Joan Rivers’ Fashion Police , influence shopping trends. Although these shopping magazines focus on a niche, the subject is very broad. Editors want articles about beauty, fashion, and the latest tech gadgets. Any article about “social shopping” is highly in demand. Many shopping magazines have specific departments and columns pertaining to celebrity gossip and celebrity news.
Pitching your article to the editor
First, determine your level of writing experience. Then determine the editorial quality of the magazine. If your experience does not meet or exceed the quality of the magazine, then don’t waste your time pitching query letters to the editors. The top nationally distributed magazines, like Lucky and InStyle , are impossible to “break into” for several reasons:
1) These editors are insanely busy. 2) These magazines receive—at least—one hundred queries a day. 3) The editors rely on an established pool of experienced freelance writers. They give repeat assignments to proven writers. 4) The percentage of new freelance writers per issue is probably less than 1%. 5) The editors work only with proven freelance writers who are known in this market.
If you lack experience to write for such magazines, then look elsewhere. You can find a gold rush of writing opportunities with regional lifestyle magazines that not only have an appetite for publishing articles on shopping, fashion and trends, but they also pay very good. Also don’t forget about the many fashion and shopping niche websites that are easier to break into and will help you build up your portfolio while earning a paycheck.
When you are ready to pitch an article, make sure the editor is interested in your subject, and that the magazine has published similar subjects. Typically, you can review the magazine online and review its editorial calendar to gauge the interest level of a subject. This will also help you to consider if your article fits into a specific timeframe.
When you write, evaluate your writing style: are you writing a news article or a general interest article? Is your article relevant right now? Or is your topic something an editor can publish a few months from now? Then, of course, take care of the obvious: make your word count fit the proper word length; check for misspellings, grammar and style (AP style, Chicago style). Avoid writing articles that are too controversial unless you have the experience in argumentative writing.
Ten Categories of Hot Article Topics
The current in-demand topics include the following:
1) Celebrity news
People love to read juicy gossip, which makes it one of the best subjects that a freelancer can write. You can write articles about celebrity news. These topics include “ Who is dating who among celebrities ,” “ Trending celebrity hairstyles ,” “ Top Tweeting Celebrities ,” “Celebrity Nightclub Dramas,” and so on.
2) Hairstyles and hair makeovers
You will always find numerous articles about hair and hairstyles in shopping magazines. Hair is one of the issues that bother women the most. Editors like articles that cover “ Current trending hairstyles ,” “ How to get that hair color ,” “ Your bad hair day makeover ,” “ Reasons to change your hair stylist ,” and so on. Shopping magazines like to fit these type of articles in 500 word departments with one or two bulleted sidebars about which hair products to buy.
3) Simple but effective beauty solutions
Beauty and makeup tips are always in-demand topics that editors and readers crave. Some suggested topics are: “ How to get rid of dark under eye circles ,” “ When to toss off that makeup ,” “ How to fix a broken nail in a rush ,” and “ How to get the best out of your mascara .” Shopping magazines devote columns and departments to makeup tips, and editors often hire freelance writers to write a monthly or weekly column. It is essential that you provide photos with your article.
4) Shoe Shopping Guide
Women can never get enough shoes. Buying a pair of the newest Roland Mouret designer shoes is a conversation piece at parties and social gathers. A pair of shoes can blemish or brighten a woman’s appearance. When writing about shoes, you can cover latest trends in shoes and offer a guide on the best shoes for different occasions. Some topics that you can write include: “How to take care of your shoes,” “How long should you wear your heels,” “The latest shoe fashion,” and “How to shop for evening shoes.”
5) A general shopping guide
Offer a shopping guide based on the latest celebrity trends. Here are some topics that you can write: “How to shop like celebrity,” “How to wear your denim,” “How to shop for your body shape,” and “Window-shopping for newlyweds.”
6) Fashion accessories
Here you talk about the latest and trendiest fashion accessories—from handbags to belts, purses, the best trends for the season, styling tips, jewelry, etc. Popular article topics include: how to wear the current trends; where to find the best deals; how to incorporate new pieces into a wardrobe; how to apply the most flattering makeup; which pieces are worth the splurge; and how to dress for your body type.
7) Charity events
Consider the season and you can write on subjects within the season affecting women and the community at large. You can write about, “Breast cancer awareness,” “Real life stories of cancer survivors,” and “Celebrity charity events.”
8) Red carpet moments
An article can cover upcoming or recent red carpet events, like the Grammy Awards, The Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, the Emmys and so on. Discuss fashion trends at the latest red carpet events, discuss the winners, and discuss wardrobe malfunctions.
9) Fashion from across the word’s major cities
This is about fashion in the world’s major cities, upcoming fashion shows, new styles, and trends, and all about celebrity fashion from across the world. Write about The London and New York fashion weeks, and upcoming fashion artists and shows.
10) Shopping for children When adults are shopping, they always have their children in mind. You can discuss children’s fashion, children’s diet, and food choices.
How much can you earn writing for these magazines?
The average income a freelance writer can earn depends on many factors, such as type of magazine, type of distribution, quality of editorial content, and type of article and length of article. A new writer is likely to earn between .10-.35 cents per word writing for regional shopping/lifestyle magazines. On average, freelance writers can earn from $20,000 to $60,000 per year. Experienced freelance writers who write for the highly-circulated shopping magazines earn from .50 cents to $1.50 per word.
Readers want to stay stylish. They want to read breaking fashion news, to find the best doorbuster deals, to shop stylishly, and to share their favorite things with like-minded stylish people at social gatherings or online at Facebook.
Shopping has changed over the past few years due to the rapid expansion of Facebook and other social media sites which allow users to share their interests. Readers of shopping magazines want to learn about the best fashion picks, styling tips and beauty advice, and where to find the appropriate products to achieve results. When they find out that a beauty tip on skincare works for them, they Tweet about it or share the advice with their Facebook friends.
Shopping is always changing and evolving in many formats. When you research shopping magazines to write for, you should also research how that particular magazine engages its readers with other publishing initiatives, such as running a website with original editorial content or publishing the newest issue to iPad or Kindle. These extra distribution channels may offer additional ways to pitch an article to the editor.
Tips on Pitching an Article
To submit your article idea, write a query letter that includes the following:
- Send the editor a fleshed out proposal with an outline. This can be a single, well-written query letter or story proposal that demonstrates your writing skills.
- Include a résumé or a summary of your experience as a writer or editor.
- Submit no more than three relevant clips.
- Specify the section of the magazine for which your article is intended. Get to know the regular columns and departments. In your pitch, explain where in the magazine you think your story would best fit.
- Convey your specific qualifications to write on this topic.
- Specify the proposed story length.
- Include possible experts and what access you have to them.
- Provide an explanation of why this idea would appeal to the magazine’s readers. Highlight the trend in your story pitch.
- Before you pitch, read some back issues to get an idea of the section or department that you’re targeting.
Here is a brief list of top shopping/style magazines in the United States:
Name of magazine Circulation Name of editor Contact info.
Redbook magazine 2,229,416 Jill Herzig, editor-in-chief Website
Seventeen magazine 2,029,281 Ann Shoket, editor-in-chief Website
Real Simple magazine 2,002,945 Kristin van Ogtrop, Managing Editor Website
InStyle magazine 1,783,864 Rosie Amodio, editor Website
More magazine 1,314,756 Lesley Jane Seymour, editor-in-chief Website
Lucky magazine 1,117,930 Brandon Holley, editor-in-chief Website
Elle magazine 1,110,136 Keith Pollock, editorial director Website
Essence magazine 1,058,845 Constance C.R. White, editor-in-chief Website
Life & Style Weekly 4.9 million Dan Wakeford, editor-in-chief Website
Allure magazine 1,108,834 Linda Wells, editor-in-chief Website
Runway magazine 150,000 Vincent Mazzotta, editor-in-chief Website
Vogue magazine 1,248,121 Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief Website Experienced freelance writers can e-mail the editor or editorial department and request writer’s guidelines. If you do not have 5-10 years of proven experience, you should target local and regional magazines that constantly publish articles on shopping and style. You can research these magazines by using our free Writer’s Guidelines Database. You can find many shopping, fashion and style magazines that use freelance writers.
Where to Find Ideas for Timely Stories
You will never have a shortage of article ideas to pitch to shopping/style magazines. Here are some places to research the latest shopping and style trends:
1) Google News — http://news.google.com 2) CNN.com Fashion — http://topics.cnn.com/topics/fashion_and_style 3) USA Today Lifestyle — http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/index 4) Twitter feeds — https://twitter.com 5) Yahoo! OMG! — http://omg.yahoo.com/ 6) Yahoo! Buzz Log — http://buzzlog.yahoo.com/overall/ 7) Google Trends — http://www.google.com/trends/hottrends
How hard is it to break into top tier shopping magazines for new writers?
Here are a few reality checks :
“Our editors work almost exclusively with experienced writers who have clips from major national magazines. As a result, we accept unsolicited manuscripts only from writers with such credentials. There are no exceptions. If you do have significant national writing experience, and you have an idea or manuscript that you think might interest us, email us and please include some of your most recent clips.”
“We cannot guarantee that your submission will be read or commented on; it is by far most likely that we will get in touch with you only if we are interested in pursuing the idea you propose.”
“We cannot accept e-mail; and hard-copy submissions will not be considered. If you do not yet have national experience, we look forward to hearing from you when you do. We also extend our regret that if you send us a manuscript, we will not have the time to read, comment on or return it.”
“If our staff decides to pursue your idea(s), we will contact you directly to discuss. Due to the large volume of unsolicited queries we receive, we’re unable to respond to every proposal. If you don’t hear from us within 90 days, please assume that we’re not interested.”
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Ideas to pitch to a fashion & style magazine.
Writing for fashion and style magazines can be a lucrative niche for freelancers. These magazines can earn the right amount by targeting high-profile celebrities and individuals. They may write a fashion guide and offer the current news in brands, hair makeovers, style and fashion of celebrities.
These magazines often target educated and independent women. Enthusiastic shoppers can learn how to invest in purses, apparel, and fashion. Blogs and articles in the magazine can help readers to improve their homes with the greatest and latest kitchen accessories, portable technologies and furniture. Freelancers can earn money with custom writing . Some famous magazines are Entertainment Weekly, Flare Magazine, Ok Magazine, Ohio Women’s Magazine, InStyle Magazine, etc.
Articles with Earning Potential
A freelance writer must embrace the life of celebrity because celebrities like Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, and Oprah Winfrey may influence the shopping habits of consumers. Reality shows like Real Housewives New Jersey, Fashion Police Joan River, and Project Runaway can affect shopping habits. Editors need articles about fashion, tech gadgets, and beauty. Articles about social shopping are in high demand. Several fashion magazines have columns and departments about celebrity news and celebrity gossip.
Celebrity News
People love juicy gossip, so freelancers can write on scandals, news, affairs, and breakups of celebrities. You can make an article about tweets or nightclub dramas of celebrates. Fashion magazines are incomplete without hairstyles, fashion trends, the makeover for a bad day, hair color, haircuts, etc.
Beauty Solution
A fashion magazine must have makeup and beauty tips. These topics can quickly grab the attention of readers. You can write about seasonal skin care and tips to avoid pimples and dark circles under eyes. As a freelance writer, you can write a weekly or monthly column about beauty. Make sure to explain everything with photographs.
Shopping Guide
Shopping tips in your magazine can be a great addition. Women will love to know how to buy dresses, shoes, bags, makeup, etc. If you can share some tips to save money, it will increase the number of your readers. For instance, a shopping guide for shoes must cover current trends in shoes and the best sandals and shoes for each occasion. You can write tips to increase the life of shoes. A general shopping guide is enough to persuade your audience. In this section, you can write the shopping styles of celebrities and trends for denim.
Write About Fashion Accessories
The trendiest and latest fashion accessories from belts, purses to handbags, you can share the best trends for the season, jewelry and styling tips. People will like to read about the best deals and current trends. Share different styles for each body type.
People want to know about the activities of their favorite celebrities. Feel free to write about awards, fashion weeks, and red carpet moments. Discuss some sizzling news, such as wardrobe malfunction, the behavior of stars and their dresses. A fashion magazine is incomplete without New York and London fashion weeks. To get a competitive edge, you must have a special section for children’s fashion.
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Top Fashion Magazines for Freelance Fashion Writers
Top Fashion Magazines:
- Harper’s Bazaar is the oldest fashion magazine in the U.S.. Illuminating the world of fashion since 1867, Harper’s Bazaar provides plenty of fashionable fodder for freelance writers in the form of high quality photo spreads. Upper echelon fashion fans add a little spice to their life with regularly written celebrity news articles.
- Vogue has been educating readers in the U.S.. on fashion for more than 100 years after hitting the newsstands in 1892. For freelance fashion writers researching haute couture and high fashion, Vogue is the crème de la crème. Current editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and her signature bob keep readers abreast of up-and-coming designers, as well as trends set by design houses worldwide. Be sure to get the infamous September issue, which continues to break records as the heaviest monthly magazine that regularly weighs more than five pounds.
- ELLE brings fashion readers back down to earth from the Vogue stratosphere. Originating in France, ELLE translates into “she” in French. As the world’s largest fashion magazine with 42 international editions, ELLE is a globalized fashion resource. Find wearable styles and perky pop culture side by side in this magazine as it spouts out sparkle.
- Nylon attracts a hip and funky crowd that you’d likely see strolling Oxford Street in London or the Garment District in NYC. Focused on how the music scene influences fashion trends, Nylon provides a fresh take on mod styles. Fashion forward actors and music artists previously featured in Nylon include Liv Tyler, The White Stripes, Mary-Kate Olsen and The Horrors.
Why Consult a Fashion Magazine:
If you are writing about fashion for a website or blog, you should have the most up-to-date information pertaining to the gleaming fashion world. Flip through the top fashion magazines to find inspiration and ideas on current trends and styles. Cut and paste collages dedicated to fashions that tickle your fancy as you compose top notch fashion articles. Research niches, such as vintage clothing, budget fashion, accessories or hairstyles, by reading fashion magazines.
Before forging ahead with writing an article for a fashion magazine, or any magazine for that matter, read the magazine. Pick up a few back issues and do your research by identifying the style and format of the magazine. This is a must if you want to get published in such magazines. You will also find contact information and submission guidelines in the front section of fashion magazines.
Miranda B is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
The best way to write for fashion magazines is by pitching. Make a list of your favorite publications, build your writing portfolio, choose 3-4 sample articles
It works as a short, one-two summary sentence of the article. From it, the reader should get a tiny hint of what the article contains and sense
6 Tips for Writing for Magazines · 1. Target your pitches carefully. · 2. Become a specialist. · 3. Do more research than you think you need. · 4.
What makes a great fashion article · A strong point of view: An effective article on this topic should have a clear point of view, whether it's pro-fashion or
How do you get your writing featured in a magazine? ... for is an 800-word piece of writing, focussing on a fashion, style or beauty trend.
How to Pitch to a Fashion Magazine · Contact the right editor · Have a solid pitch · Keep it short and sweet · Address editors by their name and
Tips on Pitching an Article · Send the editor a fleshed out proposal with an outline. · Include a résumé or a summary of your experience as a writer or editor.
People want to know about the activities of their favorite celebrities. Feel free to write about awards, fashion weeks, and red carpet moments. Discuss some
Top Fashion Magazines for Freelance Fashion Writers · Harper's Bazaar is the oldest fashion magazine in the U.S.. Illuminating the world of fashion since 1867
Personal fashion blogs only started to cross my mind after reading a Teen Vogue article roughly a year ago. Before that, my blogroll was limited