MODE (magazine)

Plus-sized fashion magazine

Mode

editor in chief| Corynne Corbett (2000-2001)[1]
Former editors| Abbie Britton (1997-2000)[2]
Categories| Fashion magazine
Frequency| Quarterly (1997), ten issues (1998), Monthly (1999-2001) [3]
Publisher| Julie Lewit-Nirenberg and Nancy Nadler LeWinter [3]
Founder| Julie Lewit-Nirenberg and Nancy Nadler LeWinter [3]
Founded| 1997[3]
First issue| 1997 (1997)
Final issue
Number| October 2001[4]
600,000[4]
Company| Freedom Communications
Country| United States
Based in| New York City
Language| English
ISSN| 1091-0271

MODE (stylized MODE) was a fashion magazine aimed towards plus-size women which launched in the spring of 1997.[5] The magazine was praised for targeting the plus-size consumer with a Vogue-like fashion philosophy.[5] MODE also helped to increase the growth of the plus-size industry and the caliber of plus-size clothing and advertising.[1] In 1997, MODE was named the best new magazine launch by Ad Week and Advertising Age.[5] MODE also ran model search competitions in conjunction with the Wilhelmina modeling agency, drawing entries from thousands of hopefuls from the US and Canada.[6][7][8] Its circulation was approximately 600,000 at the time of its demise[4] in October 2001.[9]

## History

[edit]

Publishing veterans Julie Lewit-Nirenberg and Nancy Nadler LeWinter, who had experience for magazines such as Vogue, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Mademoiselle and Marie Claire, began developing MODE in 1996.[3] The first issue launched in February 1997 with a circulation of 250,000 copies.[3] MODE received strong positive reception from readers(over 8,000 pieces of fan mail in just over a year) and from the press.[10] After MODE launched, agencies increased their rosters of plus-size models and retailers improved the production value of their advertising.[10] Freedom Publications bought a 50% stake in the magazine in late 1997.[5] MODE started a partnership with Butterick Publishing Company to produce patterns, and began planning other ventures including a website, TV programming, and syndicated newspaper columns.[11] The magazine also received acclaim, being named the best new magazine launch by Ad Week and Advertising Age in 1997.[5] MODE began running model searches in conjunction with the Wilhelmina modeling agency in 1998, drawing entries from thousands of hopefuls from the US and Canada.[6][7]

Advance Publications, the parent company of Conde Nast Publications, made negotiations to purchase Lewit and Lewinter Inc. in 2001, but the deal did not go through.[12] Occurring shortly before the time of MODE closure was the failure of several designers' ventures into the plus-size market. Versace (GV Versatile Couture), Valentino (Carisma), and others ceased producing the clothing which MODE magazine relied upon, leaving an unfortunate deficit in both the fashion department wardrobes and advertising revenue coffers of MODE magazine and its successors.[13] Its circulation was approximately 600,000 at the time of its demise[14] in late 2001.

## Editors

[edit]

* Abbie Britton (1997-2000)[2]
* Corynne Corbett (2000-2001)[1]

## References

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1. ^ a b c Gottschalk, Mary (July 31, 2000). "Thin Is Still In". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
2. ^ a b "A La Mode". Women's Wear Daily. March 21, 1997. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
3. ^ a b c d e f Winston, Sherri (March 11, 1997). "New Women's Magazine: Big Dream". The Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
4. ^ a b c "Freedom Communications press release". Freedom Publications. December 28, 2001. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
5. ^ a b c d e Herman, Valli (May 19, 1998). "Fashion Mode". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
6. ^ a b Hollister, Julia (February 8, 1998). "Young Model Bites the Big Apple". The Union Democrat. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
7. ^ a b Sampey, Kathleen (October 16, 1998). "Retailers exploring plus-size market". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
8. ^ Jones, Maddy (May 1, 2010). "Interview With Cover Model Jordan Tesfay". Plus Model Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
9. ^ John David Ebert (September 2, 2011). The New Media Invasion: Digital Technologies and the World They Unmake. McFarland. p. 197\. ISBN 978-0-7864-8818-6. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
10. ^ a b Krol, Carol (February 23, 1998). "Full-Figured Women A Great Fit for 'MODE': Launch of the Year: Expert Sees BOOK AS A 'GENERATIONAL MAGAZINE'". Advertising Age. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
11. ^ Kerwin, Anne Marie (September 22, 1997). "Freedom Magazines Buys 50% Stake in Fashion Title Deal". Advertising Age. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
12. ^ Fine, Jon; Cardona, Mercedes (January 29, 2001). "Advance makes play for 'Mode.'". Advertising Age. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
13. ^ Gottschalk, Mary (March 7, 1997). "Full-figured women get their fashion desserts a la Mode". The Daily News. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
14. ^ "Freedom Communications press release, December 28 2001". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2013.