The sniping inside Elle continues, and the fella with the biggest target on his head is creative director Joe Zee.
Fresh off bitter internal reviews of the the magazine's reality show Stylista comes more criticism of Zee, who, with editor Robbie Myers, threw a viewing party for the twosome's Ugly Betty season finale cameos.
"Your story about the hype of the '1 second' cameo for Joe Zee on Ugly Betty was very accurate," says a spy. "No one could believe he would throw a party for such a thing. He is such a lens fly - will do or go anywhere to get on TV."
But it's not just Zee's vanity that's vexing staffers. It's what it's costing the magazine. A source says all of Zee's personal vamping and obsession with being on TV – and, apparently, in the magazine: he's spotted with Rihanna in her issue's table of contents – means "he has taken his eye off the ball at his day job." Translation?
Newsstand is plummeting. And Elle's publisher Carol Smith "is freaking out … as advertisers are moving away."
In January, newsstand sales hit 421,000, up 25.3 percent from last year, with a Victoria Beckham cover. In February, with Jessica Alba's cover, things dropped to 375,000, but that was still 15.7 percent better than last year. And then March's Amy Adams cover began a downward spiral, with newsstand plummeting to 285,000, down 34.8 percent from last year.
Then came April's Natalie Portman cover, followed by May's Madonna cover, which "tanked," and June's Rihanna cover, "another disaster."
And this month's Mariah Carey cover, which already carries anecdotes like this one? An absolute mess, says a source. Among the problems: Editors had trouble scoring clothes from the designers.
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To begin with Joe Zee is not only ruining ELLE magazine; he is ruining the WHOLE Fashion image! This guy is simply DISGUSTING. EllE is slowly becoming a cheap magazine with dirty look editorials just like any other magazine you find out there that no one buys. Elle has lost all the glamour and fun. Joe Zee sucks!
Uggly Betty?… Im sure no one noticed or knew who he was! He looked like a Ninja Turtle!
Joe Zee has NO glamour or class and he will never be popular even if he tries to appear in the next star wars movie!
I guess the owners of EllE magazine must be VERY stupid to allow this disgusting creature to throw a party after all the bad image he is giving to this magazine.
Who reads that magazine? Elle sucks!!
it is about time ELLE is tanking. The place is is crazy and run my crazier people. They hire and fire people at the drop of the hat. I hope this magazine dies a slow death like all the other books at HFM.
I think its pathetic to throw a party as an excuse of a 1 second appearance in Uggly Betty.
I think this guy just likes to greet and amuse his friends with the magazines money.
I used to really like EllE…I don't read it anymore.
I used to get inspired with Elle magazine. Now the magazine sucksssss.
according to the elle newsletter, mary kate olsen is on the july cover, not mariah. which i'm not sure is a better choice…
Joe is an incredibly talented stylist, a charming man and a terrific manager to his staff. He works hard to make Elle great. If you don't like his work, that's your right. But he's a down-to-earth guy with a great sense of humor who actually embraces the idea that fashion should be fun (and not the viciously judgmental province of a few dried-up, embittered Fascistonistas).
Cut the guy some slack. Fashion is exciting and challenging and changing right now. No one's going to get it right every time. We can at least try and nurture those who try.
Print media is dead. Long live the blog!
Elle used to be so classy American with a European feel but lately, it feels like a cheap teen 'cosmo'. It's cluttered and the writing has SUFFERED! I used to love their photo shoots in the natural settings and now, it's slammed with junky fashion and loud lighting! Ugh … save it please!
I agree with Laura K. Print media is dead. However, I find Joe Zee to be fun and one of the few in the fashion world who doesn't take it all so damn seriously. Readership may be down at Elle, but it's down everywhere. The economy is in the crappy and the publishing world should be glad there are still jobs left. At least Joe and Elle are creating interest and buzz. That's more than can be said about any of the Conde Nast fashion rags these days. Long live Elle!
If there is hope to magazines its Joe Zee; gone are the days of stuffy, snooty editors. Joe Zee knows is fashion but he is also down to earth, no one in the whole wide world dress like the "vision" presented at Vogue. Zee brings a breath of fresh air to this suffocating industry, know what women want, and has the capacity to take Elle through the economic storm. To all the good soles out there who wants to see him fall, you are all just more of the same, way behind the curve. Good luck Joe Zee!!