If you’re aiming to land a job or internship at a magazine, particularly to become an editor or pitch your story as a freelance writer, connecting with fashion editors is a crucial step. But you might be wondering how you can find and connect with them beyond the pages of magazines and liking their posts on Instagram. In this article, I will reveal the secret.
Applying for Fashion Magazines: Editors > Recruiters
A few months ago, I received a message from a student who said she couldn’t find the account of the German edition of Harper’s Bazaar, nor any email or recruiters’ profiles on LinkedIn. She was wondering where she could find them. For brands, I usually suggest emailing not only fashion professionals but also recruiters, but at a magazine, it’s best to email editors directly (or another role depending on which position you are seeking).
Indeed, despite there are some recruiters, especially at big media companies like CondĂ© Nast or Hearst, editors should be your primary contact if you want to become a fashion editor or pitch your article idea. Why? Because if you want to write for the magazine, fellow editors will want to see your writing skills and tone above your resume and cover letter. And if you aspire to become a fashion editor, they may want to see your styling skills too, as many editors are writers + stylists. While the resume and cover letter are important, and you should always include them in your fashion magazine job application, your portfolio is what editors want to see most.Â
Where to Find Fashion Editors
The Masthead
The masthead of a magazine is a goldmine for finding the names of fashion editors. Usually placed at the beginning of the issue after the advertising pages, the masthead includes a list of all the people working at the magazine—art directors, the digital team, and of course, editors.Â
Many fashion magazines also have a digital version of the masthead, often under an “About Us” or “The Masthead” section of their website.
Each editor has a specific title—the most popular being a Fashion Editor, but there are also Beauty Editors, Features Editors, Culture Editors, and so on. I use the term “fashion editor” a lot in this article to refer to editors, but know that there are more specialties outside fashion. So before reaching out to them, find out which niche you are interested in (fashion, beauty, …) and find the corresponding title in the magazine: that’s your primary contact.
LinkedIn is my go-to platform to find everyone working in fashion, including the editors. Many fashion editors have active profiles on LinkedIn, allowing you to reach out to them. It’s also a great place to discover “secret” job postings, as some editors post their job or internship announcements directly on their profiles.
To find editors on LinkedIn, it’s very simple. If you already know the name of the editor (because, for example, you found them in the publication’s masthead or their name appeared in an article you read), type their full name in the search bar, and their profile should pop up if they are registered (most likely they are).
If you don’t know the editors’ names and you don’t have the masthead near you, you can find them directly on LinkedIn. In the search bar, type “editor” or “fashion editor” (or another niche) >> click on “People” >> Filter by company. Here you have it! You’ll see the list of all editors working at that magazine. If you don’t have a preference for a specific magazine, you can leave the “company” filter empty.
You can also add additional filters, such as the location, if you are looking for editors working in a particular market. For example, Milan if you want to find editors at Vogue Italia, or Paris if it’s Elle France, etc.)
The first step of finding the editors now being done, let’s see how to connect with them.
How to Connect with Fashion Editors
Cold Email
One of the best strategies to connect with fashion editors is to send them a cold email. This strategy is especially effective when seeking a job or internship in the editorial department or pitching story ideas as a freelance writer.
Why it works:
Magazines rarely post job or internship openings online, but it doesn’t mean they are not hiring. Waiting for an opportunity to open is not a good strategy as it could take months, and you would still need to compete with other candidates and go through the application process. So, instead, I recommend sending a cold email to editors working at your favorite magazines asking if you could assist them on set.
Tips for Cold Emailing Editors:
- Keep it short: Make your email short and to the point. Clearly state who you are, why you’re reaching out, and what you can bring to the table.Â
- Personalize the cold email: Do your research and tailor your message to the specific editor. Mention something relevant to their work (e.g. a recent article or editorial piece) to show that you are genuinely interested in what they do.Â
- Reinforce your online application: If you applied to a job offer online, you can also send a cold email to the editor who posted the position. A polite follow-up email will reinforce your application and showcase a stronger enthusiasm for the position.Â
- Follow up: If you don’t hear back, it’s okay to send a polite follow-up email after a week or two.
I teach more about cold emailing in my free webinar.
If you are a freelance writer, pitching through a cold email is the only way to submit your article idea. This is the best and easiest way to write for fashion magazines, and editors love this approach because it goes straight to the point. If you want to learn more about how to pitch editors effectively, check out our Fashion Writer Accelerator course.
Once you find the editor of your interest, you can send them a message directly on LinkedIn.
Why it works:
Sending a message to editors on LinkedIn is similar to the cold email in the sense that you establish a direct connection with them. Moreover, they have immediate access to your profile, which you can use to your advantage.
I always recommend using LinkedIn to grow your personal branding and showcase your skills as a professional. In this case, if you want to become a fashion editor, your profile should include your writing or styling portfolio or both, so that when the editor checks your profile (and they will) they will immediately see your work, and if they like what they see, they’ll be more likely to respond you.
Note: Sending an InMail to people outside of your network is only available with LinkedIn Premium. If you are using a free version, first, you’ll need to send a connection request. I recommend personalizing it with a note explaining why you’re reaching out.
Many fashion editors have Instagram accounts where they share their work, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and personal insights. While I suggest using the cold email or LinkedIn first if your goal is to send a cold application, Instagram is also a powerful tool to establish a more personal connection with fashion editors.
- Tip: You can send the editor you admire a direct message (DM). Introduce yourself, and start the conversation by saying you admire their career, life, or a recent project.
- Although it’s not a traditional professional networking tool like LinkedIn, don’t be informal, and make sure your message is respectful and professional.
- Show real interest and comment genuinely on their posts.Â
Other reasons to find and connect with fashion editors
While requesting a job or internship at a magazine or sending a pitch is often the main goal when reaching out to fashion editors, there are other reasons to find and connect with fashion editors.
The Informational Interview
If you’ve ever wanted to talk to a fashion editor and learn about their typical day, responsibilities, and career path, the informational interview is the chance to do so. An informational interview is a conversation with a fashion professional (for example, an editor) where you can ask questions related to their role, company, and career advice.
Keep in mind that this is NOT a job interview! So, unlike the cold email or LinkedIn strategy that you can use to request an internship at a magazine or pitch your story, the informational interview is purely for research purposes. However, connecting with editors this way is also a chance to build a relationship that could lead to future opportunities.
How to Request an Informational Interview:
Step 1: Make a list of your favorite editors
Step 2: Find them on LinkedIn
Step 3: Prepare your questions (3-4 max) and reach out by sending a message.
- Be specific about your request: When emailing a fashion editor for an informational interview, be clear about your goals and why you admire their work. Ask if they would be willing to have a coffee break to chat about their career and any advice they might have for someone looking to enter the industry.Â
- Virtual or in-person: You can do this meeting virtually, but if you live in a fashion capital where most magazine offices are located, you could even bring coffee to their work and have the chance to peek into behind the scenes of a fashion publication!
- Be respectful of their time: Editors are busy, so avoid reaching out to them during busy periods like Fashion Week. Be flexible with the time, and keep the interview brief and focused.
You can learn more about the informational interview in this article.Â
Follow Their Career Journey
Many editors are active on social media, where they share updates on their projects, career milestones, and personal insights. Whether you’ve established a prior direct connection with your favorite editors or not, following them on social media is an excellent way to stay informed about their career journey and take inspiration from your mentors. Moreover, engaging with editors and sharing their posts can get you noticed.
How to Stay Engaged:
- Engage with their content: Don’t simply like or drop emojis. Leave thoughtful comments under the editors’ posts, and share their posts in your stories and feed.
- Share their work: If you come across an interesting article or photoshoot they’ve worked on, share it with your network and express your opinion. It’s not only a great way to support their work but also showcase your interest in this career and specific topic.
Reminder: Not every fashion editor will reply to you, and that’s okay.
I understand that when you went through the process of finding and connecting with fashion editors, you hope for a response. However, know that not everyone will reply to you. This is normal, so don’t give up and persevere. The art of following up and reaching out to other fashion editors will bring you more connections with time.
Finding and connecting with fashion editors is not as hard as it looks when you do it strategically. If you dream of becoming a fashion editor or writer and want to learn more about finding writing jobs, networking, and pitching, enroll in my online course, The Fashion Writer Accelerator.
