5 memoirs of top officials of popular glossy magazines that are worth reading

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The most famous editors of glossy publications, such as Vogue, GQ, Tatler, Glamor and others, seem almost celestial to ordinary people. Their life is like an endless holiday, in which champagne flows like a river, and every day is filled with bright meetings, fashion shows and social events. Whether this is really so, you can find out by getting acquainted with the memoirs of the most famous editors.

Diana Vreeland, D. V

This woman could only be called beautiful with a big stretch, but for herself she did not see a problem and believed that beauty was far from being the most important for attractiveness. For eight years she was the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, and before that she worked for the women's magazine Harper's Bazaar for more than a quarter of a century, going from columnist to editor-in-chief.

Diana Vreeland's memoirs can be read with a notebook in hand to write out quotes and note what exactly helped this brilliant woman to remain optimistic until the last day of her life. Today, the memoirs of the editor-in-chief of Vogue are read like a fascinating adventure novel, marveling at her courage and tremendous self-confidence in the face of very ordinary external data. Diana Vreeland was not of the simplest character, was overly straightforward, could afford to give advice to Jacqueline Kennedy, outshine the beauties with intelligence and courage, and remain herself under any circumstances.

Grace Coddington, Grace. Autobiography"

The creative director of Vogue magazine is rightfully called the muse of American fashion. The red-haired and bright Grace Coddington does not like to give interviews, and therefore her autobiography is of interest and allows you to learn about the life trials of a successful lady. In her autobiography, Grace will talk about how she was disappointed with the thriving nepotism in the fashion world when she took her first steps as a model, will share the secrets of overcoming difficulties and what helped her cope with the loss of loved ones, father and sister.

In her memoirs, Grace Coddington, with her inherent humor, tells about the unbearable characters of famous models, and at the same time admits: very beautiful, but spineless beauties could hardly have interested her as models for American Vogue. In general, Grace Coddington's autobiography can be called a kind of guide to the world of fashion.

Tina Brown, The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992

The editor-in-chief of the British Tatler and the author of the biography of Princess Diana took over the editorial chair of Vanity Fair in 1983. Tina Brown's book is her own diary, which she kept from the moment she moved to New York. The reader has a unique opportunity to follow how Tina Brown overcame her own complexes step by step and got out of the web of doubts and self-doubt.

On the way to success, she had to face gender prejudice and infringement of her rights, overcome feelings of guilt towards her own family and learn to value herself and her own achievements. Tina Brown did not pass over the backstage life of the editorial office in her diary, talking about intrigues and not always fair games hidden behind the beautiful covers of glossy publications.

Nicholas Coleridge, The Glossy Years

A brilliant British journalist for more than a quarter of a century was the managing director of the large British publishing house Condé Nast Britain, which publishes a lot of magazines: Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamor, GQ, Brides, Wired, Love, GQ Style and others (a total of 139 magazines and 100 sites). He is a Knight Commander of the British Empire and Director Emeritus of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In his autobiography, Nicholas Coleridge will talk about the seamy side of the world of gloss, share his memories of the years of study at Eton and Cambridge, as well as his path from journalist to president of the publishing house.

Even after Nicholas Coleridge resigned as head of the publishing house in 2017, he continues to lead an active social life, loves to bargain with excitement at auctions, and devotes his free time to literary creation.

Alexandra Shulman, Inside Vogue. A Diary Of My 100th Year

The editor-in-chief of British Vogue in his memoirs also shows the seamy side of working in a glossy edition. At the same time, she diligently avoids demonstrating everything that can be called "glamor", but shows the daily painstaking work of creating a magazine. Alexandra Shulman considered herself not entitled to speak on her own behalf, because for many years she was the voice of Vogue.

For 25 years, she headed the editorial office of Vogue, and then decided to become just a woman, leaving the chair of the editor-in-chief. And all the more interesting is the new life of Alexandra Shulman, which she opposes to the world of gloss, and her reflections on what magazines should be for modern girls.

Surely the memoirs of famous people can be called one of the most fascinating and informative genres of literature. It is always useful to study someone else's experience in achieving success, and if it is also an autobiography written in an unusual and exciting way, then the pleasure of reading is added to the benefits.