Vogue Snubs, Covets Project Runway

I couldn't resist revisiting this story to point out Vogue's schizophrenic, haughty-but-envious attitude towards pop culture.

Publisher Tom Florio has a great quote in the Times piece, saying ShopVogue.TV programming will distill the best qualities of reality television hits like Project Runway "without any of the negativity of the reality shows, and the B-level people in the industry."

His remarks echo editor Anna Wintour, who actually bragged at an industry conference last year that Vogue had been offered Runway first, but turned it down. (Of course, the show went on to make piles of money for less-snobbish Elle.) "Resist any cheapening of the brand, however popular and lucrative it might be in the short term," Wintour advised. "Vogue is not in the business of making entertainment out of the struggles of new designers. We're in the business of nurturing the next generation of American talent."

Sorry to break it to you, Anna and Tom, but between nurturing and struggles, the latter's going to win every time. As for "B-level people," who else do you think you're going to get for Web-only programming?