The shock dismissal of long time Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Kirstie Clements provoked a Twitter uproar usually reserved for celebrity overdoses, political scandals or papal resignations.
Whether they moved in the fashion world or not, everybody had an opinion. Clements herself remained fairly quiet in the aftermath but signed a book deal quickly so we knew to expect some kind of response.
For those hoping The Vogue Factor would be the musings of a bitter woman intent on shedding secrets or nasty gossip, you will be disappointed. Though Clements does discuss the dismissal- how could she not- it’s not very in depth account.
Instead, the prevailing mood of The Vogue Factor is of sincere affection for half a life spent at Vogue. Clements writes entertainingly and with no ego about her first job at the magazine on the switchboard and her steady rise through the ranks.
There’s an ongoing contrast between the lush glamour the Vogue brand exudes and the very unglamorous chaos and sweat behind the scenes to make the magazine look that good. It’s clear Clements got to the top due to one key trait- the willingness to work hard- and it makes her an admirable figure.
Having spent her formative adult years and beyond with Vogue, Clements has an intimate awareness of what Vogue is, what it means and why it’s still relevant- an awareness she communicates with unaffected intelligence and clarity. Her forecast for the future of magazine publishing is more wary, though it seems she still loves the medium.
Find out more: The Vogue Factor at The Nile
