Glenda Bailey’s New Book + Exclusive Q&A

Happy Monday, Zoe Reporters! Embarking on the fabulous week ahead, I have a special Q&A for you today with Harper’s Bazaar Editor-In-Chief, Glenda Bailey! As one of my fashion and editorial heroes, it was beyond a privilege to interview her about her new book, Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits, which is a compilation of the zine’s most incredible images over the years. Unsurprisingly, I am totally inspired by her answers, and I know you will be too. Without further adieu, I invite you to pore over her answers below and then pick up a copy of the book for your coffee table! xoRZ

RZ: I have been reading Harper’s Bazaar my whole life, and am continuously inspired by your work as Editor-In-Chief. In Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits, you chronicle more than 300 photographs from the magazine—mah-jor!—what inspired you to put together such a fabulous tome? GB: I wanted to celebrate the work of all the brilliant photographers, stylists and writers that I have been privileged to work with at Bazaar over the last 10 years. When Stephen Gan and I started at Bazaar a decade ago, we wanted to create a joyful tribute to the world’s best fashion, talent and artistry each month. I like to say that Bazaar is a party where everyone’s invited—all the fun, without the hangover.

RZ: How did you go about narrowing down photographs for your book—and what are your favorites of the favorites? GB: While I was pulling together the book last summer, I was struck by how many remarkable images I had to choose from. I have so many favorites, but in particular: Jean Paul Goude’s fantastical portraits of Naomi Campbell, William Klein’s portfolio of designers and their team (Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz brought a bus-full of people), Peter Lindbergh’s cover of Kate Winslet hovering over the Manhattan skyline, Terry Richardson’s homage to Michael Jackson starring Agyness Deyn, Marc Jacobs and Winona Ryder recreating ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and sending the Simpsons to Paris (Marc Jacobs even got a tattoo of his Simpsonized self on his arm). And don’t take this the wrong way, but in ‘Rachel Zoe: I Die’ I really loved having the various designers “kill” you.

RZ: It’s obvious from numerous Harper’s Bazaar covers, like the shot with Demi Moore and the giraffe, you’re not afraid to take risks. How important is risk taking when working at a magazine? GB: Taking risks is absolutely vital to create epic images—no one wants to read a magazine that is predictable. We were lucky that Demi understood this completely (it takes a brave woman to climb stairs on a beach in McQueen’s armadillo shoes). At Bazaar, our editors double as stuntmen—but high heels are our fast cars.

RZ: I have to ask, what piece will I see in your wardrobe this fall? GB: Dresses from Lanvin, Celine and Erdem.

RZ: Many of my Zoe Report readers are aspiring to step into the fashion industry, what advice can you give them? GB: Know the subject, know your own mind and know you’re going to have to do whatever it takes to be a success.

Availability: Harper’s Bazaar: Greatest Hits by Glenda Bailey ($40).