I am sure many of you hard working interns out there read Vogue, InStyle, Elle, or Harpers Baazar on your free time. Whether we are reading these magazines on the subway, during our lunch break or while we’re making dinner, they are always close at hand and in our bags. The best part about reading these magazines is that we are actually doing our PR/Fashion homework while we are enjoying them!
There are so many ways you can use your favorite magazine, say Vogue, to your advantage; you just have to know how and when to take action!
My first piece of advice is to make sure you know the names of the editors like the back of your hand. Make sure to remember who writes for what magazine, for what section and what articles so that you can talk directly to them instead of writing general pitch to the whole team.
Secondly, take note of what sections are in each magazine, that way you know exactly who to pitch to and who to contact for information.
I know Vogue has individual profiles as well as philanthropic and even medical stories in their issues. Knowing each individual section of the magazine will help you when you are trying to pitch a story idea.
Fashion and PR girls know that one of the biggest mistakes is sending out a mass email as a pitch. That being said, make sure to specify and make that reporter or author feel special!
Knowing who writes for what section of a magazine can also help you gain contacts in the field. Jot down some names and send out emails to see who you can get in touch with for business opportunities or even people who your clients can benefit from.
Another great resource in fashion magazines are the shoppable items. These are the items that you see in magazines in sections such as “Ten great fall finds,” or “Five great pencil skirts.” It can also be a mix of different items such as “Great holiday gifts for your boss.” If you have a client that would fit into one of these sections, make sure you figure out how to reach the appropriate contact! These are such great resources and almost any client can fit into these categories.
Now that we’ve covered the business, let’s have some fun. We all know that looking good is an important part of our job. We are expected to come 
into work with a great outfit, perfect hair and a positive attitude on top of that. PR and fashion interns are known to use their fashion magazines as their style bible. We always have a magazine on hand and read it every chance we get. We’ve all seen that girl on the subway with her iPod in her ears, her big Prada sunglasses on, and of course, her InStyle magazine in hand. These magazines are the perfect outlet to get style ideas from. These type of magazines will tell you how to dress for work, keep you up to date on the latest trends and tell you where the best place to shop is.
I can tell you that as a PR intern myself, it is extremely important to dress for success. Any fashion magazine will help you achieve that perfect polished look. So the next time you go pick up Elle on your way home from work, remember that you can definitely mix business and pleasure when it comes to fashion magazines!
