Hi, Fashionista readers!
Where do I even start? At a time when the media landscape is changing daily, with print magazines closing and digital teams shrinking, I know how rare it is to have a new job. If you saw “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” you got a peek inside our new reality. But I’m here as Fashionista’s new deputy content editor, and there are a ton of exciting things happening. Fashionista has been growing and growing, especially in social and video, and I’m thrilled to be joining such a talented team.
But let me back up a bit and tell you a little about myself. I grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (where the Hadids now casually own a farm). I was obsessed with media and magazines from an early age. My favorites were Lucky, Jane, Seventeen, CosmoGirl, Teen Vogue and so many others that sadly no longer exist in print. I also grew up at a time when movies glamorized magazine careers. Films like “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “13 Going on 30” made working in media look challenging but exciting, glamorous and fun.
I knew I had to be in NYC, so I enrolled at Pace University. I started as a pre-med major because I thought I needed to choose something more practical. But eventually, I switched to journalism and decided to pursue what I was truly passionate about, and what I believed I would be good at. I got an internship at Footwear News, where I learned the ins and outs of trade publications. From there, I interned (for free) at Time Out New York, and for an entire year, I went to school, worked at a physical therapy office and interned at the magazine’s Hell’s Kitchen HQ.
TONY was journalism bootcamp. We closed a print issue every week, and all the details in our section (Shopping & Style) were meticulously fact-checked. When a job opened up to be assistant fashion editor, I jumped at the chance to contribute even more. I was in charge of new store openings, shopping events (anyone remember Fashion’s Night Out?) and designer profiles. It was such a cool feeling seeing people reading my stories on the subway.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Denton
After TONY, I became a digital editor at Seventeen during a major overhaul of the websites across Hearst Digital Media. I was responsible for expanding the site’s fashion and beauty coverage, which I did by spearheading the first natural-hair stories and making a conscious effort to feature more diverse talent, including curve models and girls with acne. Of course, I also wrote about when Zayn left One Direction and all the Pretty Little Liars fan theories. What a time!
From Seventeen, I went to Allure to help them expand digital, too. Allurewas where I really got to dig into my love of the “gross” parts of beauty. I had some seriously viral stories about my hair damage and scalp psoriasis; while a little embarrassing to write, these kinds of stories made a real impact on people.
In 2018, I had the opportunity to move to Los Angeles to join NYX Professional Makeup in-house, helping with video and digital projects. I didn’t want to leave NYC, but felt like I had to take the chance. And I’m still here! After sticking with NYX for a little over a year, I thought I’d move back to Brooklyn. But COVID-19 happened, and staying in L.A. made sense. I got a cat (a calico named Buffy Summers) and leaned into the sunshine and the slower lifestyle.
L.A. is also booming in the fashion and beauty world. As a freelancer, I got to interview dozens of celebrities (Rihanna, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Aniston, the list goes on) and cover countless red carpets. There’s so much happening here, it makes sense that it’s my home for now. I miss NYC every day and think eventually I’ll move back. But let me tell you, the sunshine really does something to your brain!
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Denton
Now we get to Fashionista, a publication I’d been trying to work for, for a decade. Seriously, I applied for multiple roles over the years, but it never worked out. (No hard feelings, guys <3) I've always believed in Fashionista and have been continually impressed with the quality of the writing and the interesting angles you don't see anywhere else. I've loved working as a contributor over the years.
As deputy content editor, I’ll be writing and editing fashion and beauty stories, overseeing social media and expanding reach on all digital platforms. You’ll see my face a lot and feel free to give me feedback! (Not about my face, but about the content.) But I think you’re going to love what we have cooking up.
xo,
Liz (on Instagram and TikTok)
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