Famous Fashion Journalists

A fashion journalist reports on clothing, designers and the fashion business. The best ones also shape how the rest of us see it. Here is what the job involves and ten writers and editors worth knowing.

What a fashion journalist does

A fashion journalist covers new collections, trends and industry news for magazines, newspapers, websites and blogs. That means attending shows, interviewing designers, explaining who wore what and why it matters, and writing reviews that take a position.

Good fashion writing helps readers understand and wear trends. It can sell magazines, influence which collections get attention, and, at the top end, make or break a designer's season. If you like both writing and clothes, it's one of the few jobs that rewards both. For salary context, see our list of highest paying fashion jobs.

Ten famous fashion journalists

Robin Givhan

American fashion critic who won a Pulitzer Prize for criticism, best known for her years at The Washington Post, where she also wrote about politics, race and the arts. Her sharp, direct reviews pushed fashion criticism to be taken seriously as cultural commentary. Read her to see how clothing connects to bigger events.

Glenda Bailey

British-born editor who ran Harper's Bazaar in the US as editor-in-chief from 2001 to 2020. She pushed the magazine toward mixing high fashion with serious reporting, and earned several industry awards along the way, including recognition from the American Society of Magazine Editors.

Anna Wintour

British-American editor-in-chief of American Vogue since 1988, and Condé Nast's global chief content officer since 2020. She is widely credited with making Vogue younger and more celebrity-driven, and with championing designers early. Few people in fashion have had more influence over who gets noticed.

Suzy Menkes

British critic who spent years as fashion editor at the International Herald Tribune and later worked with Vogue International. She's respected for independent, forthright opinions, and a bad review from her could hurt a collection.

Cathy Horyn

American critic who started at The Washington Post and wrote for The New York Times from 1998 to 2014, where her runway blog drew attention for being blunt. She has also written for Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and the International Herald Tribune over a career of about three decades.

Carine Roitfeld

French editor and former model, editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris from 2001 to 2011. She started CR Fashion Book in 2012. Her edgy, provocative style at Vogue Paris was influential.

Alexander Fury

British writer and critic, fashion features director at AnOther magazine and men's critic at the Financial Times. He's one of the few men to build a major reputation in a field with many women editors, and he's known for his detailed opinions. He has also written for the New York Times Style Magazine and sits on the British Fashion Council's committee.

Dana Thomas

American journalist and author based in Paris, who began in the style section of The Washington Post. She writes about fashion and culture for outlets including The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and Harper's Bazaar, and has written books on the industry.

Vanessa Friedman

Fashion director and chief fashion critic of The New York Times, formerly fashion editor at the Financial Times. Her reviews are plain and practical, and she often writes about everyday clothes in an original way.

Anna Dello Russo

Italian editor associated with Vogue Japan, famous for flamboyant street style. She keeps an active presence on digital channels where readers can follow her take on fashion.

If you want to write about fashion, read several of these people and notice how they open a piece, take a position and back it up.