Even though the print industry has been flailing for a while now, this still came from way out of left field.
After 10 years perfectly perched at the top spot of Vogue Australia, Editor in Chief Kirstie Clements has been dismissed. Say what?
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| Kirstie Clements a Voguette no more / photo: heraldsun.com.au |
The decision to drop Australia’s most influential fashion icon came from Nicole Sheffield, the new Chief Executive Officer of the News Ltd magazine group, NewsMediaLife.
If that wasn’t surprising enough, it has already been announced that (now ex) Harper’s Bazaar EIC Edwina McCann will replace Clements.
To be honest, I’m still reeling. While it is true that Vogue’s sales have been lagging behind those of the other major Australian fashion titles (think Marie Claire, Harper’s, Madison and InStyle) many never suspected that the solution would be so ruthless.
But, such is the state of the industry.
Selfishly, I am quite sad. I’ve dreamed of writing for Vogue under Kirstie Clements; she was a real inspiration.
Not only is her work ethic infallible and her vision precise, but she is a fearless woman. Clements is a clever and sharp writer, and has boldly spoken her mind when it was called for.
She scathingly criticised the presence of the fashion blog “style-set” at major shows; urged Australian designers to “lift their game,” questioned the authority of Australian Fashion Week; and, perhaps most infamously, defended the place of thin, willowy models on the pages of Vogue.
I admire her for all of that. But most of all, Clements deserves veneration because she is self-aware enough to acknowledge and examine the impact of her role on society.
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| Kirstie Clements in photo that accompanied the article below / photo: vogue.com.au |
This is an excerpt from my favourite article by the industry hero:
“The first girl arrived, a beautiful blonde trying to pull her skin-tight mini dress down over her thighs as she wriggled over to say hello. Giant platform shoes. The next girl arrived. Same thing.
Same shoes actually, in a different colour.
Soon the lounge room was full of drop-dead gorgeous girls with perfect figures trying to pull their tiny dresses down, keep their bosoms in, and walk in their heels. To no avail.
Same shoes actually, in a different colour.
Soon the lounge room was full of drop-dead gorgeous girls with perfect figures trying to pull their tiny dresses down, keep their bosoms in, and walk in their heels. To no avail.
…
I was talking to some mothers of teen girls the next day and we were puzzling the origin of the little dress/ big shoe trend.
“It's our fault,” I said, meaning fashion magazines. “In fact Carine Roitfeld (ex editor-in-chief of French Vogue) started it, getting around the RTW shows in those enormous Givenchy shoes.” I think I'll go back to the office and get the fashion editors to stamp it out. Then at next year's dance, they might be a little warmer.”
“It's our fault,” I said, meaning fashion magazines. “In fact Carine Roitfeld (ex editor-in-chief of French Vogue) started it, getting around the RTW shows in those enormous Givenchy shoes.” I think I'll go back to the office and get the fashion editors to stamp it out. Then at next year's dance, they might be a little warmer.”
Edwina McCann certainly has big Louboutins to fill.
Were you as shocked as I by this news? What did you think of Kirstie Clements' decade at Vogue?
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