Daily Front Row

2012 November 13

Deborah Needleman Taps Joe McKenna for T

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Deborah Needleman
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Deborah Needleman's first issue of T: The New York Times Style magazine will debut in February, and her masthead is already showing signs of change. The latest hire? Well-known stylist Joe McKenna, who has been named T's new fashion director at large. McKenna will work on the women's fashion issue, and he will also style several spreads throughout the year. Once a child actor, McKenna explored small film roles and enjoyed a brief musical career before turning to fashion writing at the London Times. After moving to New York in the late eighties, he worked at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone while turning his attentions to styling. McKenna's freelance collaborations with Calvin Klein and Bruce Weber on some of the brand's most iconic campaigns cemented his career as a a fashion editor, and he has since worked regularly with magazines such as W, Vogue Paris, and British Vogue. In addition to his editorial work, McKenna has styled numerous campaigns for the likes of Versace, Giorgio Armani, Chloé, YSL, and Miu Miu.

Needleman's big hire follows several other additions to her team. She also poached WSJ.'s Whitney Vargas as deputy editor, Patrick Li as creative director, and Nadia Vellam as photo director. Needleman's arrival has coincided with several departures at T as well—entertainment director Jacob Brown, photo director Andres Gold, and David Sebbah have left the magazine. Sally Singer's deputy editor, Jeffries Blackerby, remains on staff under a different role.
ASHLEY TSCHUDIN