Norman Jean Roy photographed Georgia May Jagger for the Oct issue of Vanity Fair.

READ MORE ABOUT: Georgia May Jagger, Norman Jean Roy, vanity fair

(photos by Kris Kidd)

Four months ago a bunch of my favorite people to follow on Twitter were filling up my feed with news of a new magazine.  ‘Check out  @clichemagazine!’ so I did. I headed over to the site and saw the clean format of their first issue with Cody Kennedy on the cover, and started e-flipping through to pages, reading articles, and seeing photos from some of my favorite photographers.  From then on, I became a huge fan of Cliché, an online magazine based out of California that publishes monthly, and features spreads and content that you aren’t going to find anywhere else on the web, or at any store, for that matter.  I continued to check back monthly to see Brittany Flickinger on the cover, and an entirely green issue, all complete with great feature stories, interviews, street style photos, and spreads from the Cliché staff; but then I realized: outside of the photographers I already follow, I have no idea who is behind this magazine.

Naturally, I scoured the internet to figure things out and found the editor-in-chief’s name, Jeremy Fall, and I made one of those emails to a general address to try and get ahold of Jeremy in order to figure out just what goes on behind the scenes at Cliché.  After long chains of emails and iChat conversations, Jeremy and I have grown to be great friends, and I’ve learn that Cliché is definitely a magazine that is here to stay, and here to join Fashion Indie in the ‘print is dead’ campaign.

See what Jeremy had to say on the start and growth of Cliché, and why the internet is way better than Condé Nast:

–

FASHIONINDIE: Where were you at before Cliché?

JEREMY FALL: Before starting Cliché, I had an event production & artist management agency in LA. We mainly produced events in clubs around the city and represented artists from around the world. I also organized private events on the side ranging from fashion shows to corporate events to birthdays.

FI: Once you got the idea (and how did that even happen?), where did you go next?

JF: No one ever believes me when I answer this question, but I got the idea for Cliché at 5 AM when I couldn’t sleep. I suddenly felt the need to take on another project and always thought that there weren’t many magazines out there that take a completely different approach to their themes. I was looking through a few issues the other day at Barnes & Noble and found one with an “up and coming talent” theme. The issue consisted of 100 little biographies of people that no one has ever heard of, and it just seemed like the creators were crossing their fingers that at least one person of their choice would someday blow up and give them credibility. As for Cliché, I’m not saying that we don’t go for up and coming talent, I think that’s great, we just prefer showing different things in our issues. For example, in our July rising stars issue, we also showed a merging city, growing hotels, different types of designers, etc.. Sorry I might be getting a little off topic, to answer your second question, once I had the idea for the mag I immediately started looking for photographers and writers over the Internet and through people that I knew. This was probably the hardest part and I admit that I didn’t have any experience in creating magazines. It took about a month to completely assemble our team and then we started creating issues.

FI: Is this something you always wanted to do?

JF: Being the editor-in-chief of a magazine was something that I had never thought of doing. I’ve always had a passion for management and when everything started coming together, I fell in love with the idea.

FI: Did you anticipate it would grow so quickly?

JF: A lot of people ask me that too actually, and honestly I really didn’t expect this at all. I’m so grateful for all of our readers and the attention that Cliché’s been getting. I had projected around 100,000 readers monthly by January 2010 thinking that I was crazy for aiming so high, and we’re at over 600,000 monthly now. I definitely think that it’s not done growing yet and that there are still many improvements to be made.

FI: Where do you plan to take Cliché, assuming it continues to grow exponentially in viewers?

JF: I never say never but I really don’t think that we’ll ever become a printed magazine. In 10 years, glossy magazines will be considered luxurious items and everyone else will have theirs available online. The way technology’s growing right now, it would be surprising if the Internet didn’t take over printed publications, but you can never know, that’s just my opinion.

FI: Do you think you’ll ever switch to a daily update format, or just stick with the monthly issue?

JF: Actually, we’re in the process of integrating a blog called Kitsch on our site to give a more “frequent update format”. This should be out soon and we really want to give our fans a more personal feel and interaction with who’s behind the mag. The goal right now is to make it daily, we’re just figuring out if that’s going to start right away. As far as the issues, those will remain monthly.

FI: We love you for it, but why jump on the ‘print is dead’ bandwagon? And why did you decide to turn your magazine entirely ‘green’?

JF: (laughs) The “print is dead” bandwagon, like I said earlier, is something that’s really growing exponentially. I honestly don’t see what the point of printing is aside from making it “look pretty”. I mean, I do agree on the fact that holding a mag in your hands on the plane or at the dentist is a nice feeling (when its a good publication) but in the end, the result is the same as when it’s online. In a few years from now, you won’t remember how nice it was to flip the pages, but how interesting an article was. Whether you read it online or on paper, you retain information the same way. Sometimes it is scary to see how technology is quickly taking over, but we also can’t live in the past when new mediums are being developed everyday. If you still don’t agree with me, take a look at how blogs have grown and how you mostly read the news online now, or how you’re sending e-mail more than paper letters, or how you text instead of sending notes (for high schoolers), or how you’re reading this interview on Fashion Indie. The list goes on and on and on. 

FI: How do you decide on a theme for each month?

JF: Honestly this might really sound cliche but I really get inspired from anything that happens around me! I know that everyone always says that but its seriously true in my case. I don’t sit in a field pondering for hours but themes come to me at random times throughout the day. Usually it starts when I’m reminded of a topic that interests me a lot and then I develop it from there and find a way to turn it into an issue. It can get hard sometimes, but I try to think ahead.

FI: Tell us a bit about the rest of your staff, you’ve got some younger talent working for you, do you think young people are taking over the industry?

JF: Our staff for the most part is pretty young. I definitely think that we are taking over the industry and feel like the generations to come will start even younger.

FI: Who have been some of your favorite people to work with?

JF: I truly think that every single person I work with strongly contributes to the mag. Now, I’m not just saying this because they’re going to be reading this interview, but honestly everyone has helped a lot. Its actually really cool because the team that you see now was built really quickly, most people have been around since day one. 

One of the best additions to our crew was definitely Dirk Mai (www.dirkmai.com), one of our main photographers. He’s an amazing artist and one of the best people to work with. You’ll find his work throughout every single issue that we’ve done so far and I honestly believe that Cliché wouldn’t be what it is today without his contribution.

FI: What has been your favorite part about this experience?

JF: My favorite part about this experience is seeing the number of readers grow and communicating and being able to directly communicate with them. I do as much as I can to be in contact with our fans and love hearing feedback, that’s really the only way to get better. 

FI: What are some of your favorite magazines?

JF: I actually didn’t read many magazines before starting mine. If I had to pick one to read for the rest of my life, it’d have to be Vanity Fair. The reason being that it’s probably the most intelligent mag available in the US and the photography you find is truly amazing. I also read Nylon monthly and open GQ when I stumble upon it.

FI: If Condé Nast offered to print Cliché, but you had to give them full ownership of it and would only collect royalties, would you?

JF: I would never do that, it would completely negate everything I just said in this interview, and make me look like an idiot.

FI:  You’ve got 1 hour until stores close and $500 dollars to spend, where do you head first?

JF: I’d probably head to a restaurant first to eat, and then with whatever I have left head to Alexander McQueen (my favorite designer).

FI: Any secrets you can give away?

JF: I can’t really say anything except for the fact that we’re going to be getting better and better. We have our new site launching very soon, created by my wonderful web designer Michael Gramling (http://www.thevintageskeleton.com), new amazing writers and photographers. You’ll have to take a look to see what I mean.

–

And that’s what you should do!  Check out the new issue of Cliché that is out TODAY on their site, see the new webisode on Cliché TV, and follow them, and Jeremy Fall on Twitter to keep updated on their world takeover(I smell a blog coming soon??!).

READ MORE ABOUT: alexander mcqueen, brittany flickinger, Cliche Magazine, cody kennedy, conde nast, Dirk Mai, gq, green magazines, Interviews, jeremy fall, kris kidd, michael gramling, Nylon, online magazines, print is dead, vanity fair

I think we all knew that Michael Jackson on the September issue of Vanity Fair was inevitable. There is no arguing he deserves this cover, but I’m thrilled Farrah is there too! Her death may have been mostly over shadowed by the King of Pops, but those days are over thanks to Vanity Fair.

SOURCE: Style Frizz

READ MORE ABOUT: farrah fawcett, michael jackson, tribute, vanity fair

Pre-ugly haircut, K.Stew look HOT. Me actually saying something good about her? Surprise, surprise! Not quite sure which issue this is for, but it’s killer.

SOURCE: Livejournal

READ MORE ABOUT: Kristen Stewart, vanity fair

Not a joke, exclusive photos shot on the set of A Knight’s Tale by Bruce Weber in 2000. Read the article on Vanity Fair and see more photos from the shoot on Cult

SOURCE: The Fashion Spot

READ MORE ABOUT: a knights tale, Bruce Weber, heath ledger, vanity fair

Vanity Fair has released some outtakes from their Johnny Depp shoot for the July 2009 issue.  I was never into him, but I know plenty of ladies [and gents] who are.  So here’s a little afternoon snack.

GALLERY: Johnny Depp Outtakes for Vanity Fair, July 2009

READ MORE ABOUT: johnny depp, vanity fair

In her spread in the May 2009 issue of Vanity Fair, Emily Blunt looks all but poised to steal all the period piece roles away from Keira Knightley.

In the ornate Michael Roberts-shot editorial, Emily models some incredible couture looks from the Paris collections, including Dior, Givenchy, and Valentino.

GALLERY: Emily Blunt for Vanity Fair, May 2009.

READ MORE ABOUT: dior, Emily Blunt, givenchy, valentino, vanity fair

No doubt about it, Angie is the world’s most beautiful woman, in my opion. Apparetnly, I share that opinion with 58% of women…

Vanity Fair has named their most beautiful women of the year, stating: “Of the billions of women on this planet, only 19, we believe, could start wars, these modern-day Helens of Troy come from both hemispheres and include legends and ingenues, a Queen (Rania of Jordan) and a first Lady (Carla Bruni of France), and at least two bedmates of Leonardo DiCaprio (Bundchen and Bar Refaeli).

LINKAGE: Popcrunch

READ MORE ABOUT: angelina jolie, bar rafaeli, beyonce, Carla Bruni, Gisele Bundchen, helen of troy, scarlett johansson, vanity fair

Gisele poses above the New York City skyline on the Plaza hotel’s Royal Terrace Suite balcony.

“He’s got a pure heart,” Gisele says of her new husband, Tom Brady. “That’s all that matters.”

LINKAGE: Vanity Fair May 2009 : Gisele Bündchen by Mario Testino

READ MORE ABOUT: Gisele Bundchen, Mario Testino, tom brady, vanity fair

Me love me some Penelope Cruz. The gem of hispanicalness is on the cover of Vanity Fair Spain looking amazing after her shiny metal man win. The spread is all artsy and makes you think she actually spends time playing the harp when she probably spends time doing what every other spanish person does, watch football (soccer for all you idiots who thought I meant the touchdown kind).

Source

LINKAGE: Penélope Cruz Does Vanity Fair Spain (April 2009)

READ MORE ABOUT: penelope cruz, vanity fair

I absolutely adore this spread. Vanity Fair always thinks of the most clever little ways to show off fashion. To celebrate the return of West Side Story to Broadway (which I’m so excited about, by the way), the magazine shot this spread as a tribute to the musical. It stars Camilla Belle (as Maria), JLo (as Anita), Rodrigo Santoro (as Bernardo), Chris Evans (as Riff) and Ben Barnes (as Tony). Others including Brittany Snow, Jay Hernandez, Robert Pattinson, Ashley Tisdale and Drake Bell make cameos throughout. Great musical, great fashion and great line-up for this spread have made me very happy. Now if only I could get “I feel pretty” out of my head.

GALLERY: Vanity Fair Celebrates West Side Story’s Return to Broadway

LINKAGE: dlisted

READ MORE ABOUT: ashley tisdale, Ben Barnes, Brittany Snow, camilla belle, j.lo, jay hernandez, Robert Pattinson, vanity fair

Photographer Mark Seliger recruited Camilla Belle, J. Lo, Ben Barnes, and others to recreate some scenes from West Side Story as a web exclusive for Vanity Fair.

J. Lo and Camilla Belle pull off being Anita and Maria in big hair, plus dresses by Michael Kors, Zac Posen, and several by Herve Leger.

GALLERY: West Side Story Revisited.

READ MORE ABOUT: camilla belle, herve leger, jennifer lopez, mark seliger, vanity fair

Lee’s has never been a brand I look to for original ads, but this new campaign by Troyt Coburn has me thinking twice about the classic denim company. It’s a truly high-fashion look at the company that can be found now in the pages of Vogue, Elle, and Vanity Fair. (TrendLand)

LINKAGE: The Pipeline: Lee Jeans’ Amped-Up Fall Campaign Will Melt Your Face

Related articles by Zemanta

• Anna Wintour: The Recent Rumors Finally Explained [Exclusive] (cityfile.com)
• The Media Equation: When Even Condé Nast Is in Retreat (nytimes.com)
• Dazzle in denim (telegraph.co.uk)
• Chanel Segway: A Stylish Ride? (shoppingblog.com)

READ MORE ABOUT: Levi, Levi Strauss & Co., vanity fair, vogue

The next issue of Vanity Fair is about the same old comedy people we’ve been laughing at for the past 4 years. Considering Seth Rogen’s last movie was a flop (the one where he’s in a porno), Paul Rudd is most remembered for not being a douchebag, and that fat one isn’t that funny when he’s not opposite George Micheal from Arrested Development, it seems a bit like this group is a bunch of dudes we already laugh at (and didn’t need to reminder to do so from Vanity Fair).

LINKAGE: Seth Rogen & Paul Rudd Cover Vanity Fair

READ MORE ABOUT: Jonah Hill, paul rudd, seth rogen, vanity fair

Ah, trust Alexander McQueen to make a Resort piece I actually like!

Kate Bosworth went to the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood Sunday night in a shiny Alexander McQueen Resort dress.

The silhouette is sleek and simple, a nice complement to the intricacy and iridescence.

She also boldly mixed metallics, and got away with wearing gold and silver.

Photo from Celebrities Wonder.

READ MORE ABOUT: graydon carter, kate bosworth, vanity fair

Annie Leibovitz worked her magic on the already sufficiently magical Cate Blanchett for the February 2009 issue of Vanity Fair.

Images from The Fashion Spot.

Check out the gallery after the jump

READ MORE ABOUT: Annie Leibovitz, Cate Blanchett, vanity fair

Okay folks, you can put down the champagne bottles, party hats and noise-makers. The celebration (for most…) was fun while it lasted, but the party is over. It’s pretty safe to say that Anna Wintour is NOT retiring and is NOT being replaced by Carine Roitfeld. We all know that I have a soft spot in my heart for Anna Wintour, so let me help the fashion diva out and provide all of you indies with a few trustworthy sources and put this rumor to rest:

Wintour herself told the New York Observer this morning:

 ”I have no plans to leave American Vogue now or in the foreseeable future.”

Also, while speaking to a panel at the Plaza Hotel (Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and New Yorker editor David Remnick were present) she revealed that she wasn’t yet “fed-up” with her job:

“My father always said to me that when you get too angry that’s the time to stop. The day I get too angry is the day I take up gardening.” 

Carine Roitfeld, editor for Vogue France and supposed replacement for Wintour spoke to WWD from London and told them:

“I’m very happy at Vogue France.”

Si Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast, said through a spokesman on Tuesday:

“There’s no truth to it. This is the silliest rumor I ever heard.”

So there you have it. Wintour, Roitfeld and Newhouse all disaffirmed the rumors of Wintour’s retirement and replacement. This is a prime example of why we should ignore non-credible sources and not jump to conclusions. But I did hear that Anna Wintour was pregnant with twins…only kidding… Or am I? No, I’m really just kidding.

Thanks NY Mag!

READ MORE ABOUT: AMerican Vogue, Anna Wintour, Carine Roitfeld, conde nast, david remnick, graydon carter, new york observer, new yorker, si newhouse, vanity fair, vogue, vogue france, wwd

Hugh Jackman graces the cover of Italian Vanity Fair for Nov, looking scruffy dirty and sweaty, no complaints here…

Thanks Just Jared for the pics

READ MORE ABOUT: Hugh Jackman, vanity fair

It’s Twilight fever…The Dec issue of Vanity Fair (the one with Kate Winslet on the cover) features this spread, shot by Peggy Sirota, in which the characters of Twilight pose ‘oh so’ elegantly in what seems like a meadow.

In one of the most boring spreads I’ve seen in a while, Robert Pattinson, Cam Gigandet, and Kristen Stewart (dressed in a gorgeous ruffled Chanel Fall 2008 dress, which she wears with casual Converse sneakers) look so posed and bored at the same time, yet also seem confused and puzzled. And, why does Kristen seem the same in every photo she takes?

Thanks Fabulousness

READ MORE ABOUT: cam gigandet, Chanel, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, twilight movie, vanity fair

A couple of days ago we featured Kate Winslet’s spread in Vanity Fair. Everything turned out great, but Ms. Winslet seems to have some personal issues with the picture above. Word has it when Steven Meisel was shooting Kate she was told that the fur throw pictured above was fake fur. Well, you can imagined how angry she was when she found out that wasn’t true.

“Although there were both real and fake furs on set, the fur used in the photograph is real. We thought Ms. Winslet was aware of this, and we’re sorry for the miscommunication.”

Thanks NYMag

READ MORE ABOUT: kate winslet, Steven Meisel, vanity fair

Kate Winslet channels French screen star Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour for the December 2008 issue of Vanity Fair, on newsstands November 11.

“I often look at women who wear great jeans and high heels and nice little T-shirts wandering around the city and I think, I should make more of an effort. … But then I think, they can’t be happy in those heels!”

Thanks PopCrunch and ICUDK

READ MORE ABOUT: catherine deneuve, kate winslet, vanity fair

Oh, old people and their senile attempts at comedy.

Vanity Fair has unleashed a series of videos which resemble the three-way bastard child of 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Office. The videos are funny, in a Frasier sort of way, which is fitting since that’s probably the only person who would watch them. Grayton Carter dead pans. His writers scurry. And they even have their own lesbian version of Dwight…

It doesn’t make me want to read the magazine, but it does make me wish they’d hire some better comedy writers and put this shit on NBC. A reality/comedy series on the lives of writers of Vanity Fair. I think every Columbia lit major just simultaneously wet their pants.

READ MORE ABOUT: grayton carter, vanity fair

My date for the Homecoming dance this year, Tom Ford, appears on the cover of the Rocktober issue of German Vanity Fair. I can’t read German, and I don’t care.  The rainy weather today makes my head hurt, but I think I can keep my eyes in focus long enough for this.

Scans from The Fashion Spot.

READ MORE ABOUT: Tom Ford, vanity fair

Aldo teams up with In Stlye Magazine for a little get together tonight.

Where: Aldo Store 603 5th Ave. between 48 and 49th Street

When: 6-8pm

RSVP – 212.654.2330 X 3

Barneys New York and Vanity Fair invite you to celebrate Vanity Fair: The Portraits, A Century of Iconic Images.

Where: Barney’s, Madison Ave and 61 Street Second Floor

When: 6-8pm

Open To The Public

READ MORE ABOUT: Aldo, Barney's NY, In Style Magazine, New York, vanity fair