Teen Vogue

>> McKinsey is in its second-to-last week of its three-month examination of the workings of Conde Nast, and the New York Observer reports that in the last few days, Conde executives, under the direction of McKinsey, asked a number of magazines — of which Teen Vogue is believed to be among — to cut their budget next year by roughly 25 percent.  It's unclear if Vogue or W will be similarly instructed.

According to sources, top brass is not being specific about how the cuts should be made, but potential options could be diminishing expenses, doing away with freelance, reducing magazine frequency, or layoffs. Conde CEO Chuck Townsend told the Observer a few weeks ago: “I can boil what I say to editors and publishers down to the simplest statement in the world and that is: You, not me, you have a responsibility to run this business in a responsible way. It’s your responsibility. I want to see your proposal of how you’re going to do it.”

Is folding a possibility? »

Taylor Lautner is destined to make the girls swoon with his October cover of Teen Vogue. He struck a few poses, looking happy to show off those famous muscles — he's putting them to good use too, as the Eclipse director twittered a photo of Taylor mid-backflip while filming last week. Taylor's chatted with a few magazines in advance of New Moon's release this November, and this time he opened up about his fame, love life, and even Rob and Kristen's rumored relationship. Here's more:

• On the kind of girls who like Jacob: "If she likes having a really close friendship with a guy . . . being able to tell him anything, and then having that friendship slowly transform into something more . . . I find myself using the word transform a lot lately because that's what Jacob does."
• On his having the role: "I think the fans would love anybody who played Jacob. I'm just lucky to be the one who got the chance."
• On Selena Gomez: "She's a great girl."
• On all the speculation about Robert and Kristen: "It's crazy. But the fans help. They're a big part of the motivation."

>> T's Karla Martinez to Interview; Teen Vogue's Taylor Tomasi to Marie Claire? —Back in July, it was rumored that T editor Stefano Tonchi might be jumping ship to Vogue, but it's his market director, Karla Martinez, who is confirmed to be leaving the recently downsized magazine for a market director position at Interview.  Meanwhile, Teen Vogue's accessories director Taylor Tomasi, who has accumulated a style following, is said to be leaving the magazine for Marie Claire and the magazine's fashion director Nina Garcia, the latter who just happened to film for an episode of the CW's upcoming The Beautiful Life (Zac Posen is in the series premiere). [FWD, Fashionista]

Fun. Funky. Fashion. All words that come to mind when I think of the beloved Teen Vogue. And TV is here to help you break into the fabulous world of fashion. In bookstores Oct. 5, The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider’s Guide to Careers in Fashion, ($17), edited by editor-in-chief Amy Astley, is packed with insider tips from industry pros Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour, and Coach president Reed Krakoff. And oozing with those adorable action-packed photos we know and love.

"The book is a useful reference guide: how to build a portfolio, dress for an interview, and land an internship," says Amy Astley. "But it is also a visual record of work by Teen Vogue’s most treasured collaborators — it is our world, and we welcome all readers to join it and find their own path to living a creative life."

But wait! There's more. Check out this video of Amy talking about the book (and hello, lover Teen Vogue fashion closet) when you read more

>> Vogue staffers purportedly aren't allowed to wear flats to the office — although that might be changing now that Anna Wintour wears them to events — but she's standing firm in her stance against reality TV.  

In The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion, out Oct. 5, advice on how to get into the industry from the likes of Marc Jacobs, Bruce Weber, and Patrick Demarchelier is featured; as for Anna's "words of wisdom":

"Don't go too fast. Because of reality television, everyone imagines they can just be a fashion designer, photographer, or model. That's not the way things go. Learn your craft."

 She also doesn't want people going into fashion because it's the cool thing to do: 

“Do your homework, go online, visit every museum, and intern. You just need to have a love for what you’re doing. It’s not about thinking that it’s the cool thing; it’s about really believing in it.”

Karl Lagerfeld seems to advise against the industry »

Taylor Momsen wore her signature heavy eyeliner on the September cover of Teen Vogue. We're used to seeing Taylor as Jenny Humphrey on Gossip Girl but have also gotten a peek at her rock-n-roll side performing with her band The Pretty Reckless this Summer. Taylor talks about dating boys her age and how she almost became Hannah Montana. Here's more:

• On being mature for her age: "I live a very adult life: I have two different careers; I'm on tour. What am I going to do, hang out with the high school kids? I just can't relate to what they talk about—it seems so petty ... My parents know that I'm not going to date someone who's sixteen. Boys are so much less mature than girls as it is; there's just no way— I would eat a boy my age alive."
• On her rock-n-roll look and sound: "I had long, pretty hair, and it didn't fit me. I'm pretty, but I'm not, like, a "pretty girl." So I pulled up a bunch of photos of Joan Jett and said, "Do that to my hair." There was a distinct change in my wardrobe, too, and I know people were a little, um, taken aback. But it wasn't me that changed—it was just that I decided to start being myself. Now I do my own makeup, my own hair, and dress myself, and it feels better ... I would never want to do something in music that isn't representing me—I'd feel like I was faking myself. I wanted to have it all done so I could say, "Here's who I am, either you like it or you don't."
• On whether she's relieved she didn't get chosen for Hannah Montana after being a finalist: "I think it's a great opportunity for Miley, but yeah, I guess I am relieved. If I had gotten the part, it would be a very different show. It wouldn't have worked for me. I push back."

• Hilary Duff’s Femme for DKNY Jeans ad revealed! — Off the Rack
• Gilt Fuse goes live Aug. 12 — Racked
• Rihanna rockin’ Balmain quilted chain leather jacket — Nitrolicious
• Vogue to get a makeover? — The Cut
• Tahari in your palm — Fashionista
• Supermodel speaks out against that "meaningless" phrase, feminism — Jezebel
• Michelle Obama style — Summer brights — Stylelist
• Leighton Meester in LAMB clutch — Bag Snob
• Found: The ideal striped cardigan — Lucky
• Scott Schuman snaps denim-clad street style stars for new campaign — Refinery 29
• Taylor Momsen talks about boys and Gossip Girl — Teen Vogue

>> The expected thirty percent decrease was optimistic for some fashion magazines, it turns out, particularly those in Conde Nast's fold.  Yesterday, Conde CEO Charles Townsend sent out a memo acknowledging the hire of consulting firm McKinsey & Co. to analyze its business strategy — and no wonder: with the loss of the ad-filled September Fashion Rocks supplement, Vogue fell to 427 ad pages in September, down 36 percent from last year; Teen Vogue tumbled to 136 pages, down 31 percent; and W may be in serious trouble — it lost the most ad pages out of any Conde magazine, down 53 percent to 185 ad pages. 

For comparison's sake, Elle will carry 21 fewer pages in September at 327 total, and Harper's Bazaar is estimated to run between 275 and 285 pages, or about 25 percent fewer pages.  It is worth noting that Vogue still tops in total number of ad pages.

>> About Chanel Iman's Teen Vogue Internship . . . A little clarification on Chanel's Teen Vogue internship — she was in the offices for a cover shoot with the magazine, according to her London agency Viva: "Chanel arrived for a Teen Vogue shoot very early. Rather than wait around doing nothing, or go away for a few hours, she said that she wanted to help out in the fashion cupboard. She tidied the place up and helped organise the samples." [Vogue UK]

UPDATE: Teen Vogue's got a gallery of the model in action. [Teen Vogue]

>> Chanel Iman Is Interning at Teen Vogue —Coco Rocha may not be interning at Vogue — only observing when she has time — but Chanel Iman put in time in the Teen Vogue closet this week as part of her internship at the magazine. On Monday, she Twittered: "U will never guess what i've been doing for the last couple of hours Havin a blast interning at Teen Vogue!!Setup there closet like its mine" and "Teen Vogue just got a little taste of Chanel Iman flavor in the House!!!Hey lol Teen Vogue rocks!!!" [FWD, Twitter, Twitter]