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W (magazine) - Wikipedia Jump to content

W (magazine)

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W
Mila Kunis on the cover of the June 2014 issue
Editor-in-chiefSara Moonves
CategoriesFashion, women
FrequencyBimonthly
FormatOversized
Total circulation
(2025)		455,443[1]
Founded1972; 53 years ago (1972)
CompanyW Media
CountryUnited States
Based inNew York City
LanguageEnglish
Websitewmagazine.com
ISSN0162-9115
OCLC1781845

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

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W was launched in 1972[2] by James Brady,[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).

Average total circulation (United States and International)[3]
Year 2018 2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Circulation 453,438 452,181 458,197 452,664 450,747 451,349 455,443

Editors

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Editor-in-Chief[note 1] Start year End year
John Fairchild 1972 1997
Patrick McCarthy[4] 1997 2010
Stefano Tonchi[5] 2010 2019
Sara Moonves[6] 2019 present

History

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W Magazine origins lie as a biweekly newspaper, which was spun off from Women's Wear Daily,[7] 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.[8]

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".[9] Klein was also the photographer for the racy photo shoot featured in the August 2007 issue, showcasing David and Victoria Beckham.[10] 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.[11][12]

In 2009 due to the 2008 Financial Crisis, advertising pages in the magazine were down 46 percent from 2008.[13] Editor-in-Chief Patrick McCarthy retired in 2010 when Condé Nast moved W into its consumer magazine group, now alongside Vogue, Glamour and Allure.[7] Stefano Tonchi succeeded him as editor in chief.[14] Edward Enninful was appointed Fashion & Style Director in 2011.[15][16] In 2011, W participated in a four-episode plot line on the fourth season of CW teen drama Gossip Girl.[17]

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.[18]

Between 2013 and 2018 the magazine went from publishing twelve issues per year to eight.[19] 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

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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.[20][21] In June 2019, Sara Moonves was named as the publications first female editor-in-chief, succeeding Stefano Tonchi.[22]

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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

W Media, 2020–present

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On August 14, 2020, W was acquired by Bustle Digital Group, Mic,[21][26] 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.[27] Moonves was kept as editor-in-chief.

International editions

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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.[28] A Chinese edition was launched in 2023 under license by MC Style Media; the magazine's editor-in-chief is Mix Wei.[29]

Editors

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List of Editor-in-Chiefs of all W editions:[note 1]

Country Circulation dates Editor-in-Chief Start year End year References
United States of America (W) 1972–present John Fairchild 1972 1997 [4][5][6]
Patrick McCarthy 1997 2010
Stefano Tonchi 2010 2019
Sara Moonves 2019 present
South Korea (W Korea) 2005–present Hyejoo Lee 2005 present [30]
China (W China) 2023–present Mix Wei 2023 present [29]

See also

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Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ a b Prior to 2010 the Editor-in-Chief role did not exist at the American publication.

References

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  1. ^ "eCirc for Consumer Magazines". Alliance for Audited Media. December 31, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Ane Lynge-Jorlén (2012). "Between Frivolity and Art: Contemporary Niche Fashion Magazines". Fashion Theory. 16 (1): 7–28. doi:10.2752/175174112X13183318404104. S2CID 191600010.
  3. ^ "AAM: Total Circ for Magazine Media". Alliance for Audited Media. Archived from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Remembering Patrick McCarthy, Former Editor of W: "He is Irreplaceable"". W Magazine. March 1, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Who Is Stefano Tonchi and Why Does His New Job Matter?". Vanity Fair. March 23, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Kelly, Keith J. (June 25, 2019). "Condé Nast sells W Magazine; Sara Moonves named editor-in-chief". Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Richard Sandomir (28 February 2019), "Patrick McCarthy Dies at 67; Ran a Fashion Publishing Empire". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Farrell Kramer (7 February 1997), "Disney to keep W magazine parent Fairchild Publications". Associated Press.
  9. ^ Larkworthy, Jane; Bridget Foley (November 2005). "Fordbitten". W. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  10. ^ "David and Victoria Beckham: American Idols". W Magazine. August 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Come on Down to Nawlins". W. April 2008. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  12. ^ "Summer Camp". W. July 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  13. ^ Holly Ware (18 March 2010), W’s editor resigns as Condé revamps mag New York Post.
  14. ^ Stephanie Clifford (23 March 2010), A Times Editor Is Named to Lead W for Condé Nast New York Times.
  15. ^ "Ghana's Edward Enninful is Fashion & Style Director of W Magazine". bantudaily.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  16. ^ Donnelly, Erin (April 27, 2011). "Edward Enninful to Replace Alex White at W Magazine". fashionetc.com. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  17. ^ Kat Stoeffel (15 February 2011), Does W Have a Carine Roitfeld Problem? Observer.
  18. ^ Self, Will (February 23, 2012). "Good Kate, Bad Kate". W.
  19. ^ Keith J. Kelly (25 June 2019), Condé Nast sells W Magazine; Sara Moonves named editor-in-chief New York Post.
  20. ^ Keith J. Kelly (23 May 2019), Condé Nast nearing $7M sale of W Magazine New York Post.
  21. ^ a b Jacob Bernstein (13 August 2020), W Magazine Will Live Another Day, in Deal With Bustle Digital Group New York Times.
  22. ^ Marc Tracy (25 June 2019), Condé Nast Sells W Magazine; Stefano Tonchi Out as Top Editor New York Times.
  23. ^ Jacob Bernstein (25 March 2020), W Magazine Goes on Hiatus, Furloughs Much of Its Staff New York Times.
  24. ^ "Brad Pitt, Chris Evans, Laura Dern, and Six Other Stars Grace the Covers of W's Best Performances 2020 Issue". W. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  25. ^ "5 Things With Lynn Hirschberg". W (Podcast). June 2020.
  26. ^ Freya Drohan (August 14, 2020). "Investor Group including Karlie Kloss and Kaia Gerber acquire W magazine". Daily Front Row. Retrieved October 4, 2020. Sara Moonves, the glossy's first female editor in chief in its 50-year history, assembled the group, led by model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss. Other celebrity investors include fashion fixtures Lewis Hamilton and 18-year-old Kaia Gerber.
  27. ^ Todd Spangler (14 August 2020), Karlie Kloss Leads Buyout of W Magazine, With Jason Blum Among New Owners Variety.
  28. ^ "Announcer Jo Su-ae to marry Doosan Group's Park Seo-won". The Korea Herald. November 20, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  29. ^ a b "W Magazine Announces China Edition Launch". The Business of Fashion. March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  30. ^ "about W | 더블유 코리아 (W Korea)". www.wkorea.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
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