Isabel Dupré Exits Elle

(NEW YORK) Isabel Dupré is leaving Elle. Dupré, the magazine's style director and a veteran of the fashion title for the last 14 years, had her last official day in the office on June 4th. Well-liked in the industry thanks to her easygoing personality and one of Bill Cunningham's favorite subjects, Dupré certainly won't rest on her laurels now that she's being represented by The Wall Group; the French-born professional, who's styled for companies like Fendi, Ferragamo, Lacoste, and Redken, is busier than ever. In addition to working her magic for the likes of Badgley Mischka, Gap, and Victoria's Secret, she's also cast her stylish eye onto the wardrobes of Julia Stiles, Emmy Rossum, Amanda Bynes, and Julianne Moore. "She was the best thing since sliced bread," summed up an industry colleague.

And despite an item in the New York Post's Page Six Sunday that not only misspelled her name, but said Dupré had featured herself in multiple shoots when in fact she's only appeared in one, sources cite the departure as being amicable.

Dupré's departure-which comes at a time when Elle is at its strongest, with ad pages up 14.4 percent and its readership growing an average of 11 percent richer to $70,509-marks the second high-level exit from the magazine since Joe Zee arrived as creative director (the first being veteran art director Guillaume Bruneau, who was replaced by Paul Ritter). Dupré's departure is being characterized more as a consequence of the magazine cutting back costs and less the result of Zee's presence. As reported, Elle plans to send half as many editors to the couture shows this July. Dupré declined to comment. An Elle representative said the magazine "does not comment on personnel issues."
JIM SHI