Behind The Scenes of Fashion Part 3: Editors and Writers

By Reagan Dellinger

Hey there, Reagan here… the girl who has watched “The Devil Wears Prada” and “The Carrie Diaries” a thousand times, dreaming of one day being in the editorial fashion industry. Whether it’s Vogue, Elle, Glamour, Seventeen, Dreamlette or New Face, every magazine needs an editor... aka, Boss Lady/Man. This job can be all things glamorous, but also consists of long hours of work and dedication.

Editors do a lot of things at once. They spend a lot of their time scrambling for the best stories and pictures for their publications. Editors are the ones who set the tone for their publication and decide what it will look like, what articles will fit and who will be featured. They have input on every story and picture that is published and supervise all of the writers and their work. In addition to managing the publication, they also edit through every page, hire photographers and stylists, correspond with freelance writers and plan budgets. Overtime is often required of editors in order to make deadlines and get things done. Most well-known editors also write their own articles and features, sharing their wisdom and knowledge on fashion with readers.

There are editors in magazines, newsletters, internet publications and even some in fashion television programs. But they all have one thing in common: they are writers, fashionistas, communicators, leaders and trendsetters. Most editors have a background or education in fashion as well as writing. In order to be a fashion editor, one must know quite a bit about fashion, merchandise, trends, marketing, design and advertising. In today’s world, you have to be tech-savvy and be able to keep up with the hottest news and latest trends in the media. Being an editor is not easy and the field is very competitive, but if you have passion for it, you will not only succeed, but will have fun while doing it.

“You know the greatest thing is passion, without it what have you got? I mean if you love someone you can love them as much as you can love them but if it isn’t a passion, it isn’t burning, it isn’t on fire, you haven’t lived.” Diana Vreeland, Harper's Bazaar (1936-1962), Vogue (1962-1971).

The world of an editor, just like any other job, is not always fun and games. But the outcome of their work is amazing and pays off at the end of the day. If you’re anything like me, you not only read fashion magazines, but obsess over their editors and research their every move and past-life… *cough cough* Anna Wintour. While editors like this have one of the most difficult jobs in the fashion media industry, it does pay off with chances to travel, rub shoulders with famous people, attend fashion shows and network with amazing people in the industry.

Whether it’s your dream to work for a fashion magazine or maybe even be a well-known editor one day, I say to follow your dreams and never give up. And take it from me, the fashion editorial world is a fun one to be in. So, next time you are reading your favorite online publication or picking up a magazine in the grocery store checkout line, look at who the editor is and research them. These people are hard-working, creative and resilient—they often are amazing people to learn from.

Reagan Dellinger is an editorial writer who specializes in all things Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle. Follow her on Instagram.