"The Vogue Factor" by Kirstie Clements is a tell-all book about what it's like to work for the most famous fashion magazine company, Vogue Australia. Clements reveals these details through the telling of her own rise to editor in chief. While it could be said that this is only one account of working for such a publication, the point of view gives insight not only into Vogue's inner workings, but shows the kind of emotional roller coaster brought on by such an environment.In other words, this book is real.
The remarkable close attention to detail in every story shared gives an outsider a true glimpse into Vogue's world. Undoubtedly, you will walk away with a new appreciation and understanding for such a devoted fashion magazine.
I love this book...and you should too
As a fashion-addict myself, I couldn't get my hands on the book fast enough. Vogue has always seemed far away, something almost unattainable to understand from a middle-sized city in Colorado. So to get the chance to get the inside scoop, I was over the moon. (Plus I love to read!)
There are two important qualities Clements uses in her writing that caused me to actually fall in love with the book.
1) She is honest about the industry...and herself.
The fashion world does what it can to build up a god-like stereotype. Everything is supposed to be magical and perfect. Clements does what she can to make it clear that these are people, just like us. In one specific example, she recalls how an intern for Vogue Australia is sitting on the floor in tears because she couldn't find the right shoe and their editor, Judith, was going to kill her. Clements decides to post a sign in the office that said, "'No, this is really serious. We don't have the right shoe.'...Fortunately Judith saw the humor in it."
She also readily breaks the ideal that every Vogue editor is going to be like Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada. "Many times over the years, people, after they have met me would say, 'Oh gee, you're so nice and normal,"...I could never really win. I was either expected to be terrifying or snobbish. And I don't consider myself either."
Vogue is a publication with people just like us. These people have feelings, want friends, want a good life and work hard to get there. It is very apparent in this book how much stress, thought and energy goes in to making each issue. I certainly have more respect for what people at Vogue do after reading this.
2) She calls the journalism industry on it's weaknesses.
This book makes Clements' merit as a journalist clear. She isn't afraid to say that some parts of our movement forward in journalism aren't great. She also isn't afraid to call other fashion publications out: "I think witty copy on a fashion page is a must. I've always labored over them. Generic cover lines such as 'Great shoes and bags!' are a terrible, tired cop out."
Repeatedly, she insights how the quality of a piece should be worth more than quantity.
Clements proves how Vogue Australia readers demand credibility in what they read as much or more than news publications. For example, her questioning email interviews gave insight into the problems that can really arise for settling to this as a way to interview: "you can't be sure who the person at the other end answering them is".
When Vogue Australia went this route for an exclusive interview with Elizabeth Taylor, a reader challenged that is was even Taylor. To calm everything down, Elizabeth Taylor herself called Clements to explain that it actually was her.
From story to story, Clements emphasizes her belief to always put the reader first. Not even the fashion is more important than their audience.
"The Vogue Factor" is an eye-opening book to what it's like at a Vogue publication and inspired me more to get in the thick of it in my career. I can't wait to read it again!
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