Glamour Magazine Hungary

Glamour magazine, is published by Conde Nast publication. Founded in 1939 in the United States, today Glamour Magazine is now published in more than 15 countries including Hungary and is publish by Ringier Axel Springer, we talked to Krisztina Maroy Editor in Chief of Glamour Magazine Hungary, to find out how she made her way to the top, and what she thinks about fashion.

What your dream job was when you were a child?

I wanted to be a journalist from the age of 12. I said it to everyone who asks me what I want to be when I grow up. I imagined journalists are sitting in coffee shops, smoking, talking, they are very artistic, well connected and they are creating something extraordinary every day. Of course this romantic or much rather dark romantic vision is quite far from reality, especially that I did not become a „serious” journalist as I was from my early childhood very attracted to clothing and fashion as well. This two was my main interest and it will stay for a lifetime, I guess.

Did you always know you wanted to be in fashion?

Yes. I grew up in a so-called communist country, so fashion wasn’t a very live issue, but my grandmother had a women’s tailor shop where they created basically haute couture clothes for wealthy women of the countryside. I loved to watch the women in front of the huge, golden mirror and these pictures will always be in my memory. Women in their beautiful, new clothes. They are always magical for me and life-affirming.

How did you find fashion? Did you buy magazines?

My grandmother had Burda, L’Officiel, few Vogue magazines already in the ’80s. Anyone who traveled out of the eastern block had to bring a new one, that was the way to have the newest inspiration for the salon. All the ladies were choosing their own dresses, outfits from these magazines. She made the pattern by herself which is real work and she had great talent in that, although Burda had the patterns she changed them to make the creation more special. I remember I was telling her what kind of clothes I would like and she drew them and then she did the pattern. I made her draw crazy stuff and she didn’t mind. She only said, if you will wear this, they will think you are crazy. I said I don’t care! I was watching the magazines again and again and I found some parts inspiring and some other boring and I thought it could be much better done.

What was your first internship?

I started to work before any internship. I was 23, still at the university and I became the fashion editor of a Hungarian title, that time the poshest one, called Elite. I learned how to edit on the way, although as I said, it is something instinctive with me. I learned a lot as a stylist, as a photographer’s assistant, at the university studying literature and aesthetics, so basically my life was studying and it is still. I was an intern in 2002 at British Vogue which made me think differently again. When you see how the best magazine is done you feel, yes, it worth getting up every day and try to be better and better. It was amazing that some of the people there are very down to earth and that is why they became my role models for a lifetime. If you are the best it is one more reason to be relaxed and kind, right?

What is the role of Editor-in-chief?

You still have to be an editor of all the sections of the print magazine and the online magazine, but you always have to be ahead and show the direction, see the future, feel what the people are interested in, what will be the next big thing, what worth to cover. You also have to be a very stable background for the editorial team, morally, artistically. You always have to fight for the better with yourself, with your colleagues and in the meantime be aware that just like you, they are creative, very sensitive people. It is a very complicated role and takes a lot of energies to deal with people all the time, every day. 

Tell me what an average day is like for you when you’re working at Glamour Hungary?

There is nothing like an average day. I like to change and I feel that a routine is killing creativity. Average if I am in the office, but what I am doing is not average. I don’t like numbers, that is the hardest part of my job, that I have to deal with them once in a while. I love visions, I love outstanding people, positive energies, so I try to make every day different.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a magazine?

Be a hard worker, be open, try new ways and never think that you are ready and you know it or you know how because that is the moment you will be unsuitable for the job in fashion.

What goals do you wish to achieve in the future?

Make fashion more obviously the part of our culture in Hungary, to stay creative.

What trends are you loving right now?

I love the garments made using new technologies, new fabrics as laser cut, laser print, light laser-cut leather for spring and summer. I love when old boundaries disappear. I like when fashion makes you more comfortable while you are chicer and when fashion makes your life better, easier.

Which trends do you want to see disappear?

I believe that wide choice is better than limited possibilities. The goal is to help people to choose the best for them. I would never wish a trend to disappear, much rather think about why it appeared.

What’s the best style advice you’ve received?

„You deserve it!”

Who is your favorite designer? Why?

I can’t really have a favorite and it is changing from season to another. Let’s put it in a different way: Michael Kors is a genius in basic pieces and it is very easy to build a prospering wardrobe with his brand. Karl Lagerfeld can sell anything, Miuccia Prada is a genius. I love Burberry forever and I think Christopher Bailey is a class, I want everything from their collection. Also, I think H&M is the most modern high fashion company in the World. I love that Hungarian designers start to show themselves in the international markets. Watch out for Dora Abodi, Napsugar von Bittera, Use Unused, Nanushka, Kata Szegedi and more. You all have to buy from them when you visit this beautiful country!

What styling advice would you give other women?

Focus. Don’t get puzzled by the thousands of trends. Get the basic pieces of the season and depend on them. Invest in very good quality garments and change the bits and pieces to refresh the look again and again. You have to find a good balance in life and in your dressing between stability and change. I believe that is one of the keys to happiness.

 

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