Posts Tagged ‘Flare’
The Devil Wears Comme des Garçons
Well, it looks like Canada finally has its own Miranda P. at the helm of a fashion magazine!
While she might not be wearing Prada in the photo that accompanies her Editor’s Letter in the current issue of “Flare,” the similarities between Miranda Purves and Miranda Priestly are definitely there if you squint your eyes. Reading between-the-lines of her self-introduction can also provide an easy-deluded blogger/conspiracy theorist with plenty of reasons to suspect that she’s about to embark on a reign of terror. Interns beware!
Meanwhile, the adorable Lisa Tant has moved on to “Hello! Canada,” a magazine I’d be more likely to read if there wasn’t a freakin’ wedding on every single cover. I really like Lisa, although I do miss the time when she ran “Flare” like an upstart Denver Carrington vs. the evil Colby Co.-like “FASHION Magazine” helmed by Ceri Marsh in a Joan Collins wig. Those were the days!
That makes me wonder what Miranda P. thinks of Bernadette Morra and the crew from “FASHION.” I do like the magazine, but I honestly miss Ceri Marsh’s sense of humor. “FASHION” became more like “Flare” when she left. This country isn’t big enough for two magazines with the exact same content. Now that the brilliant Susie Sheffman is no longer the Fashion Director at the magazine, I wonder if it’s headed down a more self-important path. If there’s one thing that bothers me about Canadian fashion in general it’s that almost everyone takes themselves so seriously. Fashion is frivolous and we should consider ourselves the luckiest people in the world that we can waste our time enjoying such a trivial pursuit.
Anyway, it’s going to be interesting to see the direction that our national fashion magazines are headed. Hopefully, it’s not the same path that “Fashion File” and “Fashion Television” took. But with a woman named Miranda P. at the top, I can only hope for the best for “Runway” . . . I mean “Flare” magazine.
Out with the old?
One of the perks of winning Canada’s Next Top Model is the opportunity to appear in a real fashion layout in a real fashion magazine. Last season’s winner, Rebecca Hardy, got an editorial spread in FASHION.
However, CNTM is moving to CTV. FASHION Magazine is somewhat connected to the now-wretched Fashion File. Does that mean that CNTM is going to look for another magazine to collaborate with?
Just last week, Lisa Tant of Flare told me that she wasn’t really interested in reality TV (read the interview here), unless the show had something to do with Zob. Still, I wouldn’t blame her if she teamed up with CTV if they asked her to award the CNTM winner a layout in her publication. She could be the Canadian version of Seventeen magazine’s Ann Shoket, who gets to show up at all those fun modeling challenges to give the contestants half-baked advice. What a gig!
But what would Ceri Marsh do if that plum was snatched away from her? Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but I see the beginnings of an epic battle forming here. No matter what Ceri Marsh and Lisa Tant say about their mutual respect for each other, I don’t believe it. The pair of editors reminds me of Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her.
Speaking of death, I wonder what’s happened to Fashion File? I don’t recall seeing a new episode in quite some time. Don’t get me started about Fashion File Host Hunt again, but I have to say that the casting on that show was the first nail in FF’s coffin. Anyway, I would appreciate a reliable status update on the program — if anyone knows anything. Any other idle gossip would also be appreciated.
The Lisa Tant Interview
Lisa Tant is the editor-in-chief of Flare Magazine. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lisa for a one-on-one interview. Expecting Lisa to be cut from the same cloth as Ceri Marsh, I was genuinely surprised when she suggested that we meet at Swiss Chalet instead of the bar I had recommended. Spending her day off dressed in pigtails and gingham, she’s unnervingly wholesome for a fashion editor.
Anyway, like the crack reporter I am, I gave Lisa the full Barbara Walters-treatment. In between the laughter, the tears and the Chalet sauce, here’s what she told me.
Auntie Fashion: Your relationship with FASHION Magazine editor-in-chief Ceri Marsh has been compared to the rivalry between Krystle and Alexis on Dynasty. In which character do you see more of your own personality?
Lisa Tant: I am definitely more like Alexis, but Ceri and I don’t have that kind of relationship at all. We’re more likely to hug and gossip non-stop when we see each other — no hair pulling or scratching ever. I think we’re more like Monica and Rachel on Friends.
Auntie Fashion: If Flare was able to secure an exclusive Zob cover, do you imagine that all other fashion magazines would immediately shut down operations?
Lisa Tant: They’d have to. Who could ever imagine following up that?! We’d have to shut down until the spawn of Zob was available. Let’s hope she’d mature in dog years so we could have another blockbuster cover.
Auntie Fashion: With all the extra revenue Flare could generate from a combination Zob cover/thirty-six page layout, the magazine could afford to become the official sponsor of Moose Jaw Fashion Week 2012. Should I send over the contracts now?
Lisa Tant: Sure. Send us Kalamazoo too.
Auntie Fashion: Elle Canada was featured prominently on Project Runway Canada and FASHION Magazine awarded the winner of Canada’s Next Top Model an editorial spread. It seems as if Flare has missed the reality show bandwagon. For that reason, would you consider auditioning for Rock of Love 3? I’ve heard it’s casting.
Lisa Tant: Those shows are all “faux” reality. At Flare, we’re only interested in the real-life drama behind the stiletto-bashing fashion scenes. The real thing is FAR more interesting. The only reality show I’d agree to being part of at this point is an exposé called the Life of Zob. I would be happy to be her handmaiden.
Auntie Fashion: I’ve made fashion illustrator Danielle Meder my protege, but I’m getting an All About Eve vibe from her. Do you worry that your underlings at Flare might rise up one day and usurp your position? Should I trust Danielle?
Lisa Tant: Darling, trust her. No one will ever be as fabulous as you . . . ever.
Auntie Fashion 