The internet rumor mills are working over time as the news of Nina Garcia's departure from U.S. Elle winds its way through the blogosphere. The news broke late yesterday afternoon (Friday, April 11) when Women's Wear Daily posted a short piece penned in tentative language: "Elle is said to have parted company with its fashion director (...) Nina Garcia sources said late Friday." (Source). If the news is in fact true, it's hardly surprising as rumors have abounded about her future at the magazine ever since the arrival of Joe Zee in early 2007.
Rumors and catty conjecture aside, I find this particular piece of news sad. After all, Garcia is credited with making U.S. Elle a credible competitor to the older and more established Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. She therefore joins an elite club of former fashion editors treated shabbily by the corporate brass despite significant contributions to their publication including Grace Mirabella (Vogue) and Diana Vreeland (Vogue) before her. Also, despite her somewhat bitchy persona on the reality show Project Runway (which is currently embroiled in its own drama as a result of Weinstein Company's decision to move the cult series from Bravo to Lifetime Network, a move that has prompted Jeff Zucker at Bravo's parent company NBC to take legal action seeking to dissolve the deal), Garcia is actually known for being one of the nicest people in what amounts to a fairly venomous industry. Just how venomous you may ask? Wikipedia's entry for Garcia was edited earlier today (April 12), less than 24 hours following the WWD story, to reflect her new employment status. (Source) Elle hasn't even issued a formal statement yet!
The move by Hachette Filipacchi Media (publisher of Elle), if in fact true, prompts the question So, what now? Women are craving better style leadership, quality editorial content and more originality in fashion. While Garcia's departure may have been inevitable, the move will not by itself address the decline of influence not to mention circulation of Elle and publications like it. The troubles plaguing mainstream fashion publications are endemic and cannot be fixed simply by selecting a new font and ditching one editor in favor of a new face.
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
Photographic references:
Left to right: Nina Garcia; Elle April 2008 cover featuring Nathalie Portman; Joe Zee.
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