@dior_couture1245 literally took all the words out of my mouth on this case.
Conde Nast was a force that created models, fashion trends, and ruled fashion discussion. Now, in the age of Instathots, CN is not at the top, being at the bottom off the chain. They followed the slightest pressure of political quakes and social discussion and try to cater to whatever thing is hot. Instead of creative diversity, fashion and intellectual discussion, they shove "models" to us that people put on a pedestal due to quite questionable standards (e.g. Paloma Elsesser, Hailey Bieber or Adwoa Aboah).
They don't understand that niche is the new mainstream, and true fashion and luxury consumers and enthusiasts are being pressured out and suffocated by all the diversion from actual fashion. I don't care about nearly any magazine anymore at all. These days I literally just either read fashion books, or order and read Vestoj. Sometimes I do purchase an occasional Visionaire due to the art value it has. Vogue, on the other hand, is not a collectible anymore, it is a glossy toilet paper now. I do not remember a single collectible issue in the past 5 years. Actually, the last collectible issue simply out of my mind would be Carine's Lara boobs anniversary issue.
All of this is additionally ruined by the lack of any thought anywhere. Fashion is not smart anymore, the last one standing, Prada, was recently destroyed by Raf Simons. McQueen, bless his soul... Highland R*pe, VOSS, Plato, each one was, first of all, smart and inspired. We all know what it is now - Gucci has the brand, the look, but no substance, it is all just visual gimmicks with a logo, and same comes for the vast majority - fashion, just as the majority go humanity, became shallow and fast-consume culture-infused. Photographers no longer have research, built sets, stories, or etc., there is also no substance - it is literally some SJW pandering with an arrogant face, and, unfortunately, even the new very promising ones, like Leslie Zhang or Carlijn Jacobs, lack story telling and dream, although they nail the aesthetics and technical ability.
Going onto 99% of fashion resources makes me irritated and tired, I do not anticipate it. The idea is dead. Even on Instagram, if someone has an idea, it is all about ego - a MUA, a stylist, a photographer, everybody, it is them first and the rest comes after, don't even start about bloggers. Before, in Vogue, what worked is:
It was about the reputation. Steven Meisel became iconic because of his work, not that his work became iconic immediately because he was simple Steven Meisel and paid $$$ to Facebook Ads to promote his Insta page.
Content was regulated. Cr*p stuff wouldn't just cut it and would be buried by the editor, there was strict quality control.
Pandering was not existent and wouldn't work. There was no shortcut for sales, you couldn't just splash a random pseudo-activist on a cover and write promising cover lines, because social media was not so present. It had to be someone who earned it, good or bad means, but still earned it.
I myself don't know of any good media channel for quality fashion and quality content, for a mature consumer and enthusiast.
Sadly that does seem like the case. I do agree with you when you said they should be thinking about YOU! Because you are right! They have the consumers so I don't understand why they don't cater to you.
