Print Media Still Has A Pulse: September Issues On Newsstands

Photo credit: nikkistyle.net

September's Trending! The other day me and probably 99.9 percent of the fashion industry scurried to pick-up every September issue pertaining to style and beauty. We've been also "liking" photo-after-photo on Instagram of fashion enthusiasts proudly showing off their stacks. September issues are generally finger-licking thick, and consists of overwhelming amounts of ads and free sample perfume scents. Speaking of size, Self is the thinnest magazine in my pile. (Ha!) Pun intended, or nah?  

Photo Credit: Google

I spend a lot of time studying and analyzing content and creative direction. Like reading, it's my way to escape into the creative minds of brilliant individuals in the world. Sometimes I'm so wow'ed by an ad -- that I fixate on it and often wonder what the brainstorming session(s) was like -- to produce such a magnificent concept. I'm a geek like that! Also, I have a keen eye for good journalism and do read selected stories (what's left of them), as well as stay on top of emerging runway and pop culture fashion trends.

Print's Alive. Come. On. I know I'm not the only one that enjoys the hands-on experience of touching and reading a magazine while sipping a latte...and clipping outfits to post on (mood) bulletin boards...and bookmarking articles using colorful post-it sticky notes. Right? Well. Let us be sure to bask in these moment, because the conversation about whether or not print media is dying a slow death is still up for debate.

"Print vs. Digital" talks are interesting as it relates to evolution, for sure. However, we must consider the consumer in efforts to keep a thoughtful, sustainable balance: Not every reader has the means to purchase, nor has access to, technology. And (holy catastrophe) what if the world goes dark for weeks with no electricity and mobile data - then what?

Dear Publishing Industry: We can't go full-blown digital yet; we're not ready on so many levels. Disclaimer: I'm not bias and this is not an attempt to save print. Okay, yeah it is.

PRINT VERSUS DIGITAL: 

COMPARING THE 2 TYPES OF MARKETING (INFOGRAPHIC)

Photo Credit: Root Studio (Print vs. Digital), Mind Your Black Business (Infographic)

SELF AND ALLURE MERGING?

More Shuffling At Condé Nast. Yes. By now we know that print magazines are struggling at the newsstand. Lucky magazine unfortunately has become unlucky and according to WWD, SELF magazine could merge with Allure magazine.  

Now wait a minute.

Historically, SELF focused on fitness and health whilst Allure generated content — specifically, about beauty and how-to obtain a beat face. At first I was confused by the alleged merge, hence the Huh? Nicki Minaj head tilt pic. Because there's clearly a distinction in terms of readership: To this day, SELF generally targets fitness enthusiasts; Allure targets the beauty-obsessed. Right...?

But in efforts for corporate (Condé Nast) to perhaps "make nice" with the bottom line of its Profit and Loss statement, I suppose the merge is necessary from a financial standpoint and could potentially work, content-wise, as most of us strive to become our very best alluring selves. Coined!

The New York Post joined the media frenzy and published an article last week (July 23rd), "Three Condé Nast magazines might not exist in print soon."

The buzz inside Condé Nast, according to one well-placed source, is that there could be some major publisher consolidations — with certain bosses being asked to take on group publisher roles that will allow Condé Nast to consolidate the digital reach of related titles. 

There is also buzz around the high-profile publishing house that three titles are on the hot seat — and that at least one is likely to be shuttered. Two others may go digital only. [New York Post]

Do you think print media is dying a slow death?

Photo Credit: SELF

Photo Credit: Allure

Eva Chen Moves On To Instagram

Photo Credit: CNN Money

Eva Chen Is Set To Make A Move! I had planned to tweet Lucky magazine’s vivacious former editor-in-chief, Eva Chen, to inquire about her next career move after Lucky. Eva is not like some fashion insiders, she's actually responsive and appropriately sociable. But it turns out that I don’t have to tweet her, as I received an alert that Eva will be moving on to Instagram as its “Head of Fashion Partnerships." According to reports, Eva will begin her new role at the social media powerhouse at the end of July. 

Eva Chen tells Mashable: 

I’ll be working closely with stylists, designers, up-and-comers with fun activations and finding new ways to tell fashion stories.

If there's anyone that can pinpoint new ways to tell engaging fashion stories -- that would be Eva. Have you seen her Instagram? She's blessed with an authentic charm, for sure.

Photo Credit

I look forward to learning more about Eva's new role as the Head of Fashion Partnerships. Eva has mastered the art of social media community management, specifically using Instagram, so the position sounds fitting for our style maven. 

Best of luck, Miss. Eva Chen.

XoXo nikki

Happy Easter Sunday.

Photo Credit: nikkistyle.net

Happy Easter Sunday, Lovies! 

In my basket, all the eggs are pink and purple and includes a copy of InStyle, British Edition, the April '15 issue. 

Surprise, surprise. Hehe...

So—I'm in the midst of creating an editorial calendar i.e. new content for nikkistyle.net. And the mission to inspire (person)al style and individualism will remain a goal, I pinky swear!

In the interim, if you want to pull together a stylish Easter outfit and need an idea, click here to read a past post of mine. Also, I share a sea of visuals, style tips, and tricks via Tumblr. 

Enjoy! XoXo —nikki | @nikkistyle on Twitter

My Mini Mention Makes Glamour!

Note-To-Yourself! When you pick up your copy of Glamour magazine's March issue (yes, when), be sure to flip to page 64 and check-out my mini mention!!!

Seriously. I'm obsessing over a) How awesome it truly is to be mentioned via the spring issue of a major fashion magazine—however small the mention. b) To see my name only pages away from 50 Shades' Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. Hello? c) To publicly express my love for America's Sweetheart, Reese. Pretty historic. HeHe...

In any event, this is a friendly reminder that very cool people are certainly watching and reading your twitter timeline. With that said, tweet to impress! Opportunity knocks! ;)

Updated 3/3/15 at 9:00 PM:

"Magazine Industry Boasts 10.1% Rise in Readership. For women’s fashion and beauty magazines, the largest audience for the six months was Cosmopolitan (30 million), followed by Glamour (18.3 million)." [Source] 

Photo Credit: Glamour magazine, March 2015, Page 64

Photo Credit: nikki via Twitter

Too Many Magazines. What To Do? FAB Readers, YIKES, Help Me Out.

Photo Credit: nikkistyle.net

Brainstorming! I have 7 years worth of magazines, yes seven. That's a whole lot of time to be collecting something; what you see in the [image above] is not even a 1/4.

I started to, unintentionally, build a magazine collection around the same time I started blogging about fashion, style, and beauty. Magazine articles and images gave me inspiration for new blog posts, encouraged me to stay current with what's trending, what's hot, what's not, as well as allowed me to gain a better understanding about the publishing industry as a whole. I enjoyed staying in-the-know regarding staff movement (i.e. new EICs, new editors, new writers, new contributors, etc.), and still do! Furthermore, it's really interesting to learn how readers respond to selected mag content, via social media.

Photo Credit: Social Ribbit

But I'm faced with having to make a decision: What should I do with all these magazines? Sure, I will certainly continue to store the glossies that I know I will refer back to which consist of my fave articles and cover stories. But other than that, what do I do with the rest? I thought about charity, or giving some to a University—ugh I just want to see my beloved magazines be put to good use. So, I'm making it my mission to figure out a plan: And I'll create a mind-map to help me brainstorm ;)

Aside from recycling and creating personal collages and vision boards, what have you done with your old(er) magazines? 

Talk to me: nikki@nikkistyle.net , or @nikkistyle

Photo Credit: vaultmagazine.com

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