What makes your June issue so sexy? Let me count the ways. Well, there are 12 actually. The issue features our "Sexy Dozen" portfolio of the world's steamiest celebrities, shot by Brigitte Lacombe. And while each of the portraits is sexy in its own right, it's the one of a wet Joe Jonas that has the blogs ablaze. Plus, we have new mom Rebecca Romijn on our cover. She sat for exclusive photos with her new twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie. "I feel as sexy as I have ever felt," says the new mom of this joyous time of her life.Does this mean you think sex—er, sexiness—is a better answer to the economic crisis than the stay-inside-and-knit-your-own-socks solutions that other media outlets seem to be promoting? We've always delivered great, relevant style advice, mixing aspiration with accessibility. We've certainly been conscious of highlighting this sort of edit during this economic time. Having said that, when it comes to what our reader wants to read this summer, when she's on the beach or at the pool, we're betting it's ways to be sexy rather than ways to be frugal. Our audience continues to tell us that InStyle acts as an escape from the pressures of the everyday, that it's a "mini vacation." We would like her to put down an issue feeling elated and relaxed, not necessarily worried about knitting her own socks.You took over as managing editor last September. How has the magazine changed since then? Well, previous to my becoming managing editor, I was collaborating on the title as editor-at-large. I worked closely with the team that orchestrated the successful redesign of the brand that launched this past August. Since then the team and I have been concentrated on making the magazine even more beautiful, more relevant and more entertaining with each issue. InStyle readers are always inspired to act after reading the magazine; I'm aiming to get them inspired to share something they've read or seen in an issue with a friend as well.And for the future—more special issues? More columnists like Rachel Bilson [former co-star of The OC]? Rachel is a contributing editor, and we plan to continue that relationship. The reader response has been major. And we are always looking for ways to bring new franchise themes to our edit calendar. Our newest addition, "The Color Issue," has been a blockbuster. I am also particularly excited by the ongoing success of our new humor column, "Style & Error," by Faye Penn. Think Erma-Bombeck-meets-the-runway.
It used to be fairly common for men to edit magazines largely targeted at women, but even before John Mack Carter left Good Housekeeping, women had been running fashion magazines since at least the days of Carmel Snow at Harper’s Bazaar. You don’t look it, but you seem to be a throwback. How does that make you feel? I've never thought of myself as a throwback. It makes me want to order a lime rickey and say things like "Swell"Who were—who are—your editorial role models? I've been lucky enough to work for the people who became my role models (and the role models for so many others in the industry): Ann Godoff, James Truman, David Remnick, Susan Morrison and Martha Nelson.Magazines are taking a pounding these days. What do you say to people who predict the death of magazines? I just wonder why those making these predictions seem to revel in doing so as much as they do. At this point, they’re just repeating conventional wisdom—and if we know anything to be true, it's that conventional thinkers are rarely responsible for the innovation that will take this or any industry to the next level.
Is it possible to imagine a publication like InStyle or even your old magazine Cargo in a medium besides print? I'm really excited by the buzz surrounding the next generation of digital readers. These readers will require great content, and I can't wait to see how a trusted brand like InStyle will shine in that arena.We just have to ask. You had a cameo on the CW’s Gossip Girl not too long ago. What was that like? Heaven. Fingers crossed the Emmys come through with a Special Guest Star nod.
And finally, what’s the one thing everyone—man, woman and child—should know style-wise? Style is free, and it has the power to transform the everyday into the extraordinary. That, and it's all about the shoulder this fall
