W (magazine)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates
W (or W Magazine) is an American fashion magazine that was launched in 1972 as a sister publication to Women's Wear Daily. W began as a biweekly spin-off of Women's Wear Daily.
Background
W was launched in 1972<ref name="Fashion Theory" /> by James Brady,Template:Citation needed who at the time was the publisher of the newspaper (and sister publication of W, Women's Wear Daily). The magazine was published twice per month until 1993 when it was relaunched as an oversized publication published on a monthly schedule.
In 2000, Condé Nast purchased the magazine from Fairchild Publications. In 2019, it was sold to Surface Media (later renamed Future Media Group) and in 2020 it was sold to W Media which was created for the purchase. It now operates in partnership with Bustle Digital Group and Mic, along with a group of investors (led by Karlie Kloss).
The magazine is currently published every other month, alongside a summer special issue (seven times per year).
| Year | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circulation | 453,438 | 452,181 | 458,197 | 452,664 | 450,747 | 451,349 | 455,443 |
Editors
| Editor-in-Chief<ref name=":0" group="note" /> | Start year | End year |
|---|---|---|
| John Fairchild | 1972 | 1997 |
| Patrick McCarthy<ref name=":1" /> | 1997 | 2010 |
| Stefano Tonchi<ref name=":2" /> | 2010 | 2019 |
| Sara Moonves<ref name=":3" /> | 2019 | present |
History
W Magazine origins lie as a biweekly newspaper, which was spun off from Women's Wear Daily,<ref name="nytimes.com">Richard Sandomir (28 February 2019), "Patrick McCarthy Dies at 67; Ran a Fashion Publishing Empire". The New York Times.</ref> becoming an oversized monthly magazine published by Fairchild Fashion Media in 1993. When Fairchilds' owner (Capital Cities/ABC) merged with The Walt Disney Company in 1997, W was one of the publications the new company continued to publish.<ref>Farrell Kramer (7 February 1997), "Disney to keep W magazine parent Fairchild Publications". Associated Press.</ref>
W has garnered controversy over some of the featured models in its issues. Controversial cover shoots include Steven Meisel's entitled "Asexual Revolution", in which male and female models (including Jessica Stam and Karen Elson) are depicted in gender-bending styles and provocative poses. In addition, Tom Ford's racy shoot with Klein and the accompanying article on sexuality in fashion came as a shock to some loyal readers. During the interview, Ford is quoted as saying: "I've always been about pansexuality. Whether I'm sleeping with girls or not at this point in my life, the clothes have often been androgynous, which is very much my standard of beauty".<ref name="Fordbitten" /> Klein was also the photographer for the racy photo shoot featured in the August 2007 issue, showcasing David and Victoria Beckham.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bruce Weber produced a 60-page tribute to New Orleans in the April 2008 issue, and shot a 36-page story on the newest fashion designers in Miami for the July 2008 issue.<ref name="Come on Down to Nawlins" /><ref name="Summer Camp" />
In 2009 due to the 2008 Financial Crisis, advertising pages in the magazine were down 46 percent from 2008.<ref>Holly Ware (18 March 2010), W’s editor resigns as Condé revamps mag New York Post.</ref> Editor-in-Chief Patrick McCarthy retired in 2010 when Condé Nast moved W into its consumer magazine group, now alongside Vogue, Glamour and Allure.<ref name="nytimes.com" /> Stefano Tonchi succeeded him as editor in chief.<ref>Stephanie Clifford (23 March 2010), A Times Editor Is Named to Lead W for Condé Nast New York Times.</ref> Edward Enninful was appointed Fashion & Style Director in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2011, W participated in a four-episode plot line on the fourth season of CW teen drama Gossip Girl.<ref>Kat Stoeffel (15 February 2011), Does W Have a Carine Roitfeld Problem? Observer.</ref>
Under Enninful's direction, W introduced riskier editorial features, including the March 2012 cover story by Steven Klein that depicted Kate Moss as a nun and Nicki Minaj portraying an 18th-century French courtesan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Between 2013 and 2018 the magazine went from publishing twelve issues per year to eight.<ref>Keith J. Kelly (25 June 2019), Condé Nast sells W Magazine; Sara Moonves named editor-in-chief New York Post.</ref> This would later be reduced to four in 2020, raise to six from 2021, and W currently publishes seven issues a year 2024.
Future Media, 2019–2020
In 2018, W became one of three publications Condé Nast put up for sale in the face of significant financial losses that forced it to adopt a series of cost-cutting measures. By 2019, it was acquired by Future Media, in a deal the New York Post estimated at $7 million.<ref>Keith J. Kelly (23 May 2019), Condé Nast nearing $7M sale of W Magazine New York Post.</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Jacob Bernstein (13 August 2020), W Magazine Will Live Another Day, in Deal With Bustle Digital Group New York Times.</ref> In June 2019, Sara Moonves was named as the publications first female editor-in-chief, succeeding Stefano Tonchi.<ref name="Marc Tracy 2019">Marc Tracy (25 June 2019), Condé Nast Sells W Magazine; Stefano Tonchi Out as Top Editor New York Times.</ref>
Under Moonves's editorship, the magazine underwent a major transition. By 2020, she announced to staff that many were being furloughed and that those who work on online content would be staying on at reduced salaries.<ref name="Jacob Bernstein 2020">Jacob Bernstein (25 March 2020), W Magazine Goes on Hiatus, Furloughs Much of Its Staff New York Times.</ref> The new W team finished the biggest Best Performances issue ever. In the first week of January 2020, W launched nine covers, and a 76-page celebrity portfolio covering 29 celebrities and 20 videos.<ref name="Brad Pitt" /> Additionally, the magazine launched a series of new initiatives and expanded its digital footprint. Launching W’s first podcast, 5 Things with Lynn Hirschberg, which attracted included guests including Quentin Tarantino, Charlize Theron, Saoirse Ronan, Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, Nicole Kidman, Awkwafina, and Margot Robbie as a part of the new vision for the brand.<ref name="5 Things" />
W Media, 2020–present
On August 14, 2020, W was acquired by Bustle Digital Group, Mic,<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="fashionweekdaily2020-08-14" /> and W Media, a newly formed joint venture led by Karlie Kloss and including Aryeh Bourkoff, Jason Blum, Kaia Gerber, Kirsten Green and Lewis Hamilton.<ref>Todd Spangler (14 August 2020), Karlie Kloss Leads Buyout of W Magazine, With Jason Blum Among New Owners Variety.</ref> Moonves was kept as editor-in-chief.
International editions
International editions were previously published in Japan and for Europe. The European edition launched in 1991 as W Fashion Life and separate versions were released in English, French, and Italian. In 1992 the magazine rebranded to W Fashion Europe. W Fashion Europe ceased publication in 1994.
The South Korean edition was launched in 2005 and is published under license by Doosan Magazine.<ref name="Doosan Group" /> A Chinese edition was launched in 2023 under license by MC Style Media; the magazine's editor-in-chief is Mix Wei.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
Editors
List of Editor-in-Chiefs of all W editions:<ref group="note" name=":0">Prior to 2010 the Editor-in-Chief role did not exist at the American publication.</ref>
| Country | Circulation dates | Editor-in-Chief | Start year | End year | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America (W) | 1972–present | John Fairchild | 1972 | 1997 | <ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Patrick McCarthy | 1997 | 2010 | |||
| Stefano Tonchi | 2010 | 2019 | |||
| Sara Moonves | 2019 | present | |||
| South Korea (W Korea) | 2005–present | Hyejoo Lee | 2005 | present | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| China (W China) | 2023–present | Mix Wei | 2023 | present | <ref name=":0" /> |
See also
Explanatory notes
References
<references> <ref name="fashionweekdaily2020-08-14">Template:Cite news</ref>
<ref name="Alliance for Audited Media">Template:Cite web</ref>
<ref name="Fashion Theory">Template:Cite journal</ref>
<ref name="Fordbitten">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
<ref name="Come on Down to Nawlins">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
<ref name="Summer Camp">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
<ref name="Brad Pitt">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
<ref name="5 Things">Template:Cite podcast</ref>
<ref name="Doosan Group">Template:Cite web</ref> </references>
External links
- Defunct Condé Nast magazines
- Defunct magazines published in New York City
- Defunct women's fashion magazines published in the United States
- Magazines disestablished in 2020
- Magazines established in 1971
- Monthly magazines published in the United States
- Online magazines published in the United States
- Online magazines with defunct print editions