Women’s Wear Daily (WWD)

Summary

For more than 100 years, WWD has been the media of record — and the industry voice of authority — for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities and the consumer media that cover the market. WWD delivers information and intelligence on changing trends and breaking news in the men and women’s fashion, beauty and retail industries with a readership composed largely of retailers, designers, manufacturers, marketers, financiers, media executives, advertising agencies, socialites and trend makers. The final newsprint edition of WWD was printed on April 24, 2015 as the paper switched to a digital daily format and a weekly print edition was launched on April 29, 2015.

History

WWD was founded by Edmund Fairchild on July 13, 1910 as part of menswear journal Daily News Record. The publication quickly acquired recognition in New York’s A-list fashion set.

John B. Fairchild- who became the European bureau chief of Fairchild Publications in 1955 and the publisher of WWD in 1960- improved WWD’s standing by focusing on the human side of fashion. He turned his newspaper’s attention to the social scene of fashion designers and their clients, and helped manufacture a “cult of celebrity” around fashion designers. After two couturiers forbade press coverage until a month after buyers had viewed their collections, Fairchild published photographs and sketches anyway and even sent press reporters to fashion houses disguised as messengers!! Coverage was necessary by whatever means.

When a fashion designer’s statements or collection did not meet with Fairchild’s approval he would retaliate. The newspaper sparred with Hubert de Givenchy, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Azzedine Alaia, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Bill Blass among others. In response, some of the fashion designers forbade their representatives from speaking to WWD and chose not to invite the publication to their showings.

In 1999, Fairchild Publications was sold by Walt Disney Company to Advance Publications – the parent company of Condé Nast Publications. As a result, Fairchild Publications became a unit of Condé Nast though WWD was technically operated separately from Condé Nast’s publications such as Vogue and Glamour. In November 2010, WWD celebrated its 100th anniversary in New York with some of the fashion industry’s iconic designers Alber Elbaz, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors in attendance.

On August 19, 2014 Conde Nast sold Women’s Wear Daily to Penske Media Corporation. The acquisition included WWD’s sister publications Footwear News, Menswear, M Magazine, and Beauty Inc as well as Fairchild’s events business for a sale price estimated at $100 million. The following year WWD announced on their website that they would launch a weekly print format from April 23 onward. A daily digital edition of WWD is also available to subscribers.

On July 20, 2015, Penske Media Corporation and Tribune Publishing Company announced that WWD would appear on LATimes.com and would also be distributed to select Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Chicago Tribune and Sun-Sentinel subscribers twelve times per year. The publication still commands respect and recognition. in the fashion industry.

Vision

Often referred to as “the fashion bible,” WWD envisions providing a balance of timely, credible business news and key fashion trends to a dedicated readership of retailers, designers, manufacturers, marketers, financiers, Wall Street analysts, international moguls, media executives, ad agencies, socialites, and trend-makers.

Mission Statement

As an increasingly complex marketplace heightens the need for information and competitive intelligence, WWD delivers with frequency, integrity, independence, spirited coverage, and a long tradition that demands staffers get the story right and that they also get it first.

Key People

Editorial

• James Fallon, Editorial Director
• Miles Socha, Editor in Chief
• Bridget Foley, Executive Editor
• Booth Moore, Executive Editor, West Coast
• Jenny B. Fine, Executive Editor, Beauty
• Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Executive Editor, Strategic Content Development
• Peter Sadera, Managing Editor
• Evan Clark, Deputy Managing Editor
• Lisa Lockwood, News Director
• Alex Badia, Style Director

Design Department

• Jessica Sarro, Art Director
• Lidia Moore, Designer
• Tess Donlevie, Digital Daily Designer

Photography

• Ash Barhamand, Visual Media Director
• Jenna Greene, Deputy Photo Director

Advertising & Marketing

• Paul Jowdy, Chief Business Officer and Publisher, WWD & Fairchild Live
• Stephanie Siegel, Vice President, Sales and Marketing
• Renee Moskowitz, International Fashion Director, RMM Media
• Jennifer Petersen, American Fashion & Luxury Director
• Rachael DeSantis, Beauty Director
• Samantha Hartje, Account Director

Recognition and Awards

WWD is recognised as being the authority on the global fashion industry.

References

• Official website WWD
• Letter From the Editor: Turning the Page WWD
• Fashion Magazine Industry Consolidates With a Big Deal NY Times
• Twitter page of WWD Twitter
• Instagram page of WWD Instagram
• Women’s Wear Daily Scales Back Print Editions and Cuts Staff AdWeek
• Condé Nast sells Women’s Wear Daily, others to Penske Media USA Today
• WWD celebrates 100 years Ageless
• Youtube page of WWD Youtube
• Facebook page of WWD Facebook
• Feuds in fashion NY Times
• Advertising on WWD WWD
• Then And Now: A History of Designers From The WWD Archives WWD
• LinkedIn page of WWD LinkedIn
• Wikipedia page of WWD Wikipedia
• Breaking Fashion News With a Provocative Edge NY Times
• From Pauline Trigere, a Dressing Down NY Times
• Digital Daily FAQ WWD