Speaking exclusively to WWD, Bailey said she thought about stepping down two years ago when the magazine celebrated its 150th birthday, but she had a couple more things on her to-do list: Lighting up the Empire State Building with fashion photography, which she did for the title’s anniversary, and an Arts Decoratifs exhibition.
“To have an exhibition at such a prestigious museum, which has always been my favorite, is the best compliment I could ever give to my team,” Bailey said in an interview. “I love Bazaar. It’s always been my favorite magazine and the most inspirational.”
Now she wishes to apply her expertise to growing the magazine’s business. “What I love the most is finding solutions to creative and business problems,” she said.
Asked if stepping down was a move into semi-retirement, she retorted: “I have so many ideas, and I’m hardly the retiring type in every sense of the word. I’ll always continue doing something as long as it gives me pleasure. I’m so passionate about the industry.”
Bailey said one of her proudest achievement is training up people in fashion, noting that more than 15 of her deputies have become editors in chief, including
Laura Brown, now at InStyle, and Kristina O’Neill, helming WSJ Magazine. “I just like the idea of nurturing people and seeing them blossom.”
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