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-Spring)
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[edit]

1. ^ a b c Gottschalk, Mary (31 July 2000). "Thin Is Still In". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
2. ^ a b "A La Mode". Women's Wear Daily. 21 March 1997. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
3. ^ a b c d e f Winston, Sherri (11 March 1997). "New Women's Magazine: Big Dream". The Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
4. ^ a b c "Freedom Communications press release". Freedom Publications. 28 December 2001. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
5. ^ a b c d e Herman, Valli (19 May 1998). "Fashion Mode". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
6. ^ a b Hollister, Julia (8 February 1998). "Young Model Bites the Big Apple". The Union Democrat. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
7. ^ a b Sampey, Kathleen (16 October 1998). "Retailers exploring plus-size market". The Post and Courier. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
8. ^ Jones, Maddy (1 May 2010). "Interview With Cover Model Jordan Tesfay". Plus Model Magazine. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
9. ^ John David Ebert (2 September 2011). The New Media Invasion: Digital Technologies and the World They Unmake. McFarland. p. 197\. ISBN 978-0-7864-8818-6. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
10. ^ a b Krol, Carol (23 February 1998). "Full-Figured Women A Great Fit for 'MODE': Launch of the Year: Expert Sees BOOK AS A 'GENERATIONAL MAGAZINE'". Advertising Age. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
11. ^ Kerwin, Anne Marie (22 September 1997). "Freedom Magazines Buys 50% Stake in Fashion Title Deal". Advertising Age. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
12. ^ Fine, Jon; Cardona, Mercedes (29 January 2001). "Advance makes play for 'Mode.'". Advertising Age. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
13. ^ Gottschalk, Mary (7 March 1997). "Full-figured women get their fashion desserts a la Mode". The Daily News. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
14. ^ "Freedom Communications press release, December 28 2001". Archived from the original on 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2013-01-28.