For fashion magazines, the March and September editions have always been the biggest issues of the year in Australia. Mediaweek spoke with editors of leading fashion brands for some insider highlights from upcoming issues.
• Mediaweek’s Magazine Preview: Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann
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Title: Marie Claire
Editor: Nicky Briger
Publisher: Pacific Magazines
On sale: March 1
Is the March issue your biggest in the year?
For Marie Claire, our April and October editions have become the biggest issues of the year because they herald the new seasons: autumn/winter and spring/summer. The fashion houses and beauty brands advertise new campaigns during this time as fresh stock lands in-store and our readers want to reboot their wardrobes and restock their beauty cupboards. They’re both my favourite issues of the year, packed with gorgeous new fashion/beauty looks and intriguing features. They are always strong sellers too.
What are the editorial highlights from the forthcoming issue?
April comes out a week before International Women’s Day, so we dedicate most of our features to stories about female empowerment and women’s issues. Marie Claire has long championed female rights and been the voice of Australian women, so it’s a time of celebration, reflection and action. This year, we’re launching our #MoreWomen campaign by prompting women to join politics, whether it’s at the grassroots local level or federal. The stats are still woeful – Australia ranks 50th in the world for women’s representation across all levels of government – so we need to get involved if we want better representation. As the saying goes, “Don’t get mad, get elected!”
Nicky Briger
What are some of the things you are looking out for this year?
This year, we’re focusing on women at work and female entrepreneurship, especially all the incredible women launching – or looking to launch – startup businesses. This overarching initiative is called MC Connects. It’s all about arming our audience with the necessary skills to join this startup arena, as well as connecting women with other likeminded women to help each other succeed. We’re also partnering with the Wade Institute and Tech Ready Women to empower our readers through education to be the best they can be and realise their potential. They need practical skills – especially digital dexterity – if they want to turn their ideas into money-making ventures, and that’s where we come in.