carrie*connects

Technology Trendcaster | Become a Sociopath ~ It's the Latest Thing!

I recieved an invitation this morning to join the new social network StyleCaster (which sounds suspiciously like a column that I write called Trendcaster on Bloomacious.com) - naturally I immediately zoomed over to take a look and post my mug on my own page.  

While the site doesn't seem all that different from our own network Bloomacious Cafe it apparently is embedded with lots of watching and listening devices that when explained in the video below makes me yearn for a nice long nap. 

Terms like "associated neuro network"  and "associative dynamics" are a far cry from my favorite phrase "me likey!"  but they mean similar things.

If there's any doubt after listening to this explanation that networks are the new blogs (which are the new magazines) then take a sneak peek at Fashionair which is girding up to launch soon.

Broken down gently, networks allow companies to watch the patterns and flows of their members - whom they friend, what they comment on.  We've done the same thing for the past 6 months through our networks and it's not quite as scientific or reliable as the Sociocast guys would like you to believe. 

Networks do provide a venue in which individuals can enjoy a club-like camaraderie- they also can serve as a TV station, a community blog, a messaging system and a newsletter - and are the next step beyond Facebook and Twitter.

America Ferrera Is This Month's Gotham Girl.

America Ferrera is this month's cover-girl for Gotham Magazine.  Below, Brianna Birtles, Publisher of Gotham Magazine, Actress America Ferrera and Niche Media CEO Jason Binn attend the celebration held last night at Pranna in NYC.

source: wireimage

Rodarte Takes to the Spring Pages With New Ad

 
Rodarte's new Spring ad is gracing the page(s) of V Magazine (see page 58 if you have it handy).  The fabulously sublime sepia shot features an unknown model seen from behind - a great branding message for a company that likes to keep it's image mysterious but still catch some world class buzz.

I would say this is far less splashy than Reese Witherspoon's red carpet moment the other day.

source: Runway to Retail

Lawhon Leaves InStyle.

In a strong statement about the future of publishing Charla Lawhon is closing out her 15 year run at the wildly popular InStyle Magazine and will be jumping to a web based venture in April.  The site she's headed to will focus on fashion, beauty, and celebrity - hmmm sound familiar?

Of her move, Lawhon told WWD:  “In Style has been such a great experience on every level, having gotten interested and seduced by the digital space, [I believe] things either keep moving or keep changing or you end up at a stopping point. I have that itch to get involved with shaping something new.”

Lawhon helped launch InStyle back in 1993 and has helped the magazine grow to its present circulation of 1.76 million.  With newstand sales of 740,000, the title ranks is second most popular newsstand seller among women's monthlies, just trailing Cosmopolitan. 

Details about the new venture are on the QT, WWD writes:  "Lawhon said she’d been thinking about stepping down for nearly a year, but after the holidays started to make her plan. Though she disclosed few details about her new venture, she is said to have been meeting with several major studios. Lawhon said she will not have an editor’s role at her new firm."

source:  WWD

Love Magazine Launches

I read about this magazine, Love, that launched in the UK a few weeks back, but in my web wanderings haven't made it back to check it out as fully as I'd like.  So I was really intrigued when blogger Jan from The Race of Style wrote to me today, and I discovered her great article about the magazine, from a UK perspective.  You have to read about it>>

Katie Holmes Gives Tabloids A Free Shot

Poor Katie Holmes, just trying to get a day's work in - and here comes this photo.  The next time a rumor is spread or anything remotely sad happens to the Holmes-Cruz gang, look for this shot to be front and center on tabloid covers worldwide.  (It's already circulating, I know). 

Katie was photographed by WireImage photographers as she shot a scene for her film,  "The Extra Man" in New York yesterday.  Unfortunately for Katie, the scene required crying in public.  Knowing as we do, how tabloids love these types of shots, and the various ways they can be twisted and misrepresented, we thought we'd give you a head's up that this one is coming at you.  Stay tuned!   I personally love the hat and the way it frames her face. 

A little note of trivia:  the costume designer for this film is Suttirat Anne Larlarb, who also did the costuming for the award winning Slumdog Millionaire.

Vogue's Sally Singer Talks Fashion

 
I was so thrilled when I recieved my Vogue Magazine in the mail today with Michelle Obama gracing the cover.  Nice and thick and full of ads!  Music to a publisher's ears.  So speaking of ears, they perked up when I saw this interview with Sally Singer, Fashion News and Features Director for Vogue on MediaBistro. 

I was really intrigued by her very frank answers - here's an excerpt:

Newstand Sales Figures Released

 
According to Reuters, the second half of 2008 was (not surprisingly) rough on magazine sales figures on a retail level. (Newsstand and grocery store sales, not subscriptions).

US WEEKLY saw a 21% decline in grocery and newsstand sales (to about 1 million copies); IN TOUCH a 32% decline (to about 1.2 million copies) in retail sales; O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE new-stand sales dropped 25% (to 836,770 copies); STAR retail sales down 13% (to 712,980 copies).

People Magazine however saw an increase of 3%.  Congratulations to People Magazine!