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Inside the making of marie claire magazine

Under the cover

We know youโ€™ve seen The Devil Wears Prada (more times than you might like to admitโ€ฆ), but as for what life is really like in the office of a glossy fashion magazine? Yes, there are similarities (and youโ€™ll never catch anyone in a cerulean sweater) but the reality couldnโ€™t be more different (in fact, itโ€™s surprisingly down to earth).

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When style influencer Jasmin Howell visited the marie claire office recently as part of the FIAT 500 Fashion Files series, she was met with the frisson of excitement (and undercurrent of anxiety) that defines every deadline day. In the midst of sending the bumper October issue to the printers, editor Nicky Briger took 10 to give Jasmin a glimpse at the busy world behind the magazine, and why it will always be a platform to champion for change. Watch the video interview above.

โ€œWe always say itโ€™s the fashion magazine for thinking Australian women, and I do think thatโ€™s absolutely true,โ€ Nicky tells Jasmin of the magazineโ€™s core values: style and substance. โ€œWeโ€™ve championed for paid maternity leave, the gender pay gap, an end to domestic violence, marriage equality โ€“ thereโ€™s a lot to fight for.โ€

nicky briger jasmin howell interview marie claire
Nicky Briger and Jasmin Howell

The magazine is as full of hard-hitting features as it is jaw-droppingly beautiful fashion โ€“ although if itโ€™s new season fashion trends youโ€™re looking for, the October issue is jam-packed. 

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โ€œIn fashion magazine land, it used to be all about the September issue, but actually now itโ€™s more about October,โ€ Nicky tells Jasmin. โ€œThatโ€™s when spring really starts, so weโ€™ve got a bumper fashion edition โ€“ there are three to four fashion shoots in this issue โ€“ showcasing the latest trends.โ€

As for how the marie claire fashion editors choose those trends? Twice a year, they head to New York, London, Paris and Milan for Fashion Week (really fashion month). Hotbeds of both emerging and established talent (increasingly, youโ€™ll find Australian designers in the mix โ€“ both Kym Ellery and Toni Maticevski recently showed in Paris), the shows gives fashion editors the inside scoop on whatโ€™s about to start trending around the world. 

โ€œBold colour is going to be huge this spring/summer,โ€ says Nicky. โ€œThe colours weโ€™ll be seeing for spring racing are particularly bold this season.โ€

From trend talk to pouring over fashion and beauty layouts to negotiating cover shoots with international stars, any given day in the marie claire office is equal parts grit and glamour. Hit play on the above video for an inside glimpse.

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