Ideally in the magazine world, the line between advertising and editorial content is clear. But sometimes, it gets blurry. At such times we are shocked (shocked!), and must share our indignation with you in something we call

by Intern Anastasia.

Seeing Nylon on the newsstand is like meeting this stylish sorta-hipster chick who wants to be your friend. You like The Raveonettes and Gus Van Sant? OMG, she does too. With common interests like that, you guys should totally chill.

But actually reading Nylon reveals that she’s a total poser. She’s friends with sleazy photographers like the Cobrasnake, she puts down your clothes by encouraging you to buy new, more expensive ones and for some reason she keeps asking you to try this new flavor of Bacardi. What are we, in Meatpacking?

Out of “200+ pages of show-stopping spring style!”, there are:
Editorial pages: 122
Ad pages: 90
Advertisers: 60
Advertisers mentioned in editorial content: 21

The most shameless advertorial was impossible to choose among these four:

1. “Fragrance By Design,” a spread with pictures of perfume bottles and sketches of “the girl who embodies each new designer scent.” Nylon does the branding for you!

2. A “Converse One Star exclusively for Target” tank top in a fashion spread, one page after a Converse One Star for Target ad.

3. “Drink of the Month: Jose Cuervo Platino Fresco.”

4. “Factory Girl,” a monthly feature where writer Dani Stahl goes to the headquarters of a company, custom-makes something, and keeps it. Basically, she’s writing articles in exchange for gifts. Nylon: too punk for ethics!