As ELLE’s Fashion News Director since 1998, Anne Slowey chronicles how clothing reflects societal transformation. Her beat spans three core areas:
We’ve followed Anne Slowey’s work for decades, witnessing her evolution from a sharp-eyed reporter to ELLE’s Fashion News Director. Her career—spanning over 30 years at publications like Vogue, W, and ELLE—has redefined how fashion intersects with culture, art, and societal shifts. Slowey’s writing transcends mere trend reporting, offering instead a critical lens on the industry’s evolving identity.
Slowey’s journey began in the late 1980s, when she joined W Magazine as a features editor. By 1998, she’d risen to Fashion News Director at ELLE, where she pioneered a narrative-driven approach to fashion journalism. Her tenure has been marked by:
This 2021 deep dive into Akris’ collaboration with 101-year-old Cuban artist Carmen Herrera exemplifies Slowey’s ability to decode creative symbiosis. The piece dissects how Kriemler translated Herrera’s geometric abstractions into wearable art, while contextualizing the partnership within fashion’s growing reverence for late-career artists. Slowey’s access to both parties reveals how the collection balanced commercial viability with artistic integrity—a tension she explores through interviews and archival research.
In this 2022 retrospective, Slowey reflects on three decades of industry upheavals. Through personal anecdotes about ’90s supermodels and sharp analysis of TikTok’s impact on design cycles, she argues that fashion’s true power lies in its outsider narratives. The article’s standout section deconstructs how social media altered the designer-muse relationship, citing her own experiences with figures like Bella Hadid and Zoe Kravitz.
This 2020 personal essay became a cultural touchstone, with Slowey using her signature black wardrobe as a metaphor for fashion’s emotional resonance. Blending memoir with industry analysis, she traces black’s evolution from punk rebellion to corporate uniform while questioning its contemporary relevance. The piece’s viral success stemmed from its universal thesis: clothing choices mirror internal transformations.
Slowey prioritizes stories where fashion intersects with unexpected disciplines. A successful 2023 pitch centered on a ballet company collaborating with Nike on sustainable pointe shoes. When approaching her, highlight analogous partnerships—particularly those bridging generations or art forms. Avoid generic "designer + celebrity" narratives unless they subvert expectations, like her 2021 coverage of Alexander Wang’s post-Balenciaga reinvention.
Her analysis of ’70s glam rock revivals demonstrated how archival awareness elevates trend reporting. Effective pitches might explore TikTok’s cottagecore through the lens of 1990s grunge or contrast current quiet luxury with ’80s power dressing. Include visual references to past eras when presenting new collections.
While Slowey frequently examines fashion’s flaws—from size inclusivity gaps to sustainability greenwashing—she favors pieces offering constructive pathways. A 2024 pitch she accepted dissected AI’s role in reducing textile waste, pairing startup profiles with policy expert commentary. Avoid purely negative exposés without proposed innovations.
Her profile of octogenarian artist Herrera revealed a preference for creators outside fashion’s typical age range. Successful subjects might include:
Slowey’s recent work incorporates podcast interviews and Instagram Reels dissecting runway shows. Pitch interactive elements like:
CFDA Media Award Honoree (2019): Recognized for revolutionizing fashion journalism’s narrative scope. The Council of Fashion Designers of America particularly cited her series on Caribbean design ecosystems, which amplified emerging talents alongside established houses.
ASME Finalist for Profile Writing (2021): Her portrait of Rei Kawakubo’s influence on streetwear earned this American Society of Magazine Editors nod, praised for "reconciling avant-garde theory with commercial reality."
"Fashion isn’t about hemlines—it’s about how we negotiate identity in an increasingly fragmented world."
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Fashion, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
