Glossy magazines bully women into buying things they don’t need, says ex-Vogue chief
SHE produced some of the fashion industry’s most influential shoots during her time at British Vogue.
But former fashion director Lucinda Chambers has accused the magazine of ‘ bullying’ readers into making unnecessary purchases.
In her first interview since leaving the fashion bible last month, Miss Chambers suggested that the industry was ‘cajoling’ people into buying costly designer items they simply do not need.
She said many magazines had stopped being ‘useful’ to readers and instead left many ‘anxiety-ridden’ over what to wear.
And in a shocking admission, the 57-year- old – who worked at the publication for 36 years – said she ‘hadn’t read Vogue in years’.
In the controversial interview for online fashion journal Vestoj, Miss Chambers said: ‘the clothes are just irrelevant for most people – so ridiculously expensive.
‘In fashion we are always trying to make people buy something they don’t need.
‘We don’t need any more bags, shirts or shoes. So we cajole, bully or encourage people to continue buying.’
She added: ‘What magazines want today is the latest, the exclusive. It’s a shame that magazines have lost the authority they once had. they’ve stopped being useful ... truth be told, I haven’t read Vogue in years. Maybe I was too close to it after working there for so long, but I never felt I led a Vogue-y kind of life.’
Miss Chambers’ career at Vogue started when a piece of jewellery she had made appeared on its glossy pages. She later worked as an assistant for former editor Beatrix Miller and then for Grace Coddington – now creative-director-at-large of American Vogue – before becoming the maga- zine’s fashion director in 1992. the role saw her dictate many of the magazine’s fashion editorials, including deciding on the clothing, models and photographers used.
one of her best-known shoots is that featuring the Duchess of Cambridge – her first for any title – who appeared on Vogue’s June 2016 centenary cover. However, it appears Miss Chambers was not happy with all of the features she oversaw.
of a cover with model and presenter Alexa Chung wearing a Michael Kors t-shirt, she said: ‘the June cover with Alexa Chung in a stupid Michael Kors t-shirt is crap.’ She went on to add: ‘He’s a big advertiser so I knew why I had to do it.’
the announcement of Miss Chambers’ departure coincided with editorin-chief Alexandra Shulman leaving the title after 25 years in the role.
In the explosive interview – which has since been removed from the Vestoj website – Miss Chambers claimed she was ‘fired’ by the new editor, Edward Enninful.
‘A month and a half ago I was fired from Vogue. It took them three minutes to do it,’ she said.
‘No one in the building knew it was going to happen. the management and the editor I’ve worked with for 25 years had no idea. Nor did HR.’
Miss Chambers’ damning indictment of the publication is a far cry from previous interviews she has given on the subject.
Speaking at the first Vogue festival in 2012, she insisted that she ‘believed’ in her job. ‘British Vogue is the opposite of fascist fashion,’ she said.
‘So many varied things are celebrated in the magazine.
‘It’s not just there to inform. It’s there to challenge and to inspire. It’s there to let you dream a little and, hopefully, to realise some of those dreams.’
Vogue was approached for comment last night but did not respond.
‘They’ve lost their authority’