Cathy Horyn
Encyclopedia
Cathy Horyn is an American fashion journalist
, working as the fashion critic for The New York Times
where she also keeps a highly noted and provocative blog called ("On The Runway"). She is only the second NYT fashion critic, succeeding the late Amy Spindler
when Spindler retired in November 2003.
, she began her career in fashion journalism in Detroit in 1986, writing for The Detroit News
, then moved to Washington, DC after four years, reviewing fashion design for The Washington Post
. She joined The New York Times
in 1998. Magazines and newspapers to which she contributes include: Vanity Fair
, Vogue
, Harper's Bazaar
, International Herald Tribune
and others. She is known for her unflinchingly acerbic reviews, which got her banned from numerous designer shows, most notably Giorgio Armani
.
by the Council of Fashion Designers of America
. She questioned the work and exposed the deal-making of Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour
.
In January 2010, Horyn was widely criticized when she insinuated in an article that actress Christina Hendricks
was large. The photo of Hendricks running with Horyn's piece was distorted (widened), possibly to falsely illustrate Horyn's point. The New York Times replaced the image, claiming it was slightly distorted inadvertently due to an error during routine processing.
In 2010, Horyn wrote a critical article on Jersey Shore
star, Snooki, in which she described Snooki as a "turnip turned on its tip". She wrote that talking with her "is a little like getting down on your hands and knees with a child", and noted Snooki had reportedly "read only two books in her life".
Horyn's review of Chelsea Clinton
's choice of gown and attire on her wedding day went as follows: "Ms. Clinton's dress, on the other hand, suggested a completely different relationship [than other wedding gowns Horyn had reviewed] with fashion — even, perhaps, an ambivalent one."
Lady Gaga
wrote a column for V Magazine in 2011 questioning the critics' opinions' superiority over general people's opinions, as well as them not actually being interested in the arts but in simply criticizing, where she referred to Horyn as a predictable critic like many others.
. She earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University
.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, working as the fashion critic for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
where she also keeps a highly noted and provocative blog called ("On The Runway"). She is only the second NYT fashion critic, succeeding the late Amy Spindler
Amy Spindler
Amy M. Spindler was an American journalist who had been style editor of The New York Times Magazine. She died of a brain tumor in 2004....
when Spindler retired in November 2003.
Background
Raised in Coshocton, OhioCoshocton, Ohio
Coshocton is a city in and the county seat of Coshocton County, Ohio, United States. The population of the city was 11,682 at the 2000 census. The Walhonding River and the Tuscarawas River meet in Coshocton to form the Muskingum River....
, she began her career in fashion journalism in Detroit in 1986, writing for The Detroit News
The Detroit News
The Detroit News is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival Free Press's building. The News absorbed the Detroit Tribune on February 1, 1919, the Detroit Journal on July 21, 1922, and on November 7, 1960,...
, then moved to Washington, DC after four years, reviewing fashion design for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. She joined The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in 1998. Magazines and newspapers to which she contributes include: Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
, International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
and others. She is known for her unflinchingly acerbic reviews, which got her banned from numerous designer shows, most notably Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, particularly noted for his menswear. He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, and by 2001 was acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an annual turnover of $1.6 billion and a...
.
Career
In 2002, she received the Eugenia Sheppard AwardEugenia Sheppard
Eugenia Sheppard was an American fashion writer and newspaper columnist for some 80 newspapers Eugenia Sheppard (July 24, 1900 - November 11, 1984) was an American fashion writer and newspaper columnist for some 80 newspapers Eugenia Sheppard (July 24, 1900 - November 11, 1984) was an American...
by the Council of Fashion Designers of America
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
. She questioned the work and exposed the deal-making of Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, OBE is the British-born editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. With her trademark pageboy bob haircut and sunglasses, Wintour has become an institution throughout the fashion world, widely praised for her eye for fashion trends and her support for...
.
In January 2010, Horyn was widely criticized when she insinuated in an article that actress Christina Hendricks
Christina Hendricks
Christina Rene Hendricks is an actress known for her role as Joan Holloway in the AMC cable television series Mad Men, and as Saffron in Fox's short-lived series Firefly. Hendricks was named "the sexiest woman in the world" in 2010 in a poll of female readers taken by Esquire magazine.-Personal...
was large. The photo of Hendricks running with Horyn's piece was distorted (widened), possibly to falsely illustrate Horyn's point. The New York Times replaced the image, claiming it was slightly distorted inadvertently due to an error during routine processing.
In 2010, Horyn wrote a critical article on Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
star, Snooki, in which she described Snooki as a "turnip turned on its tip". She wrote that talking with her "is a little like getting down on your hands and knees with a child", and noted Snooki had reportedly "read only two books in her life".
Horyn's review of Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Victoria Clinton is a television journalist, currently serving as Special Correspondent for NBC News, and philanthropist, working through the Clinton Global Initiative. She is the only child of former U.S...
's choice of gown and attire on her wedding day went as follows: "Ms. Clinton's dress, on the other hand, suggested a completely different relationship [than other wedding gowns Horyn had reviewed] with fashion — even, perhaps, an ambivalent one."
Lady Gaga
Lady GaGa
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...
wrote a column for V Magazine in 2011 questioning the critics' opinions' superiority over general people's opinions, as well as them not actually being interested in the arts but in simply criticizing, where she referred to Horyn as a predictable critic like many others.
Education
Horyn did her undergraduate studies at Barnard CollegeBarnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
. She earned a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
As Editor
- Bare Blass (with Bill BlassBill BlassWilliam Ralph "Bill" Blass was an American fashion designer, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is known for his tailoring and his innovative combinations of textures and patterns...
), HarperCollinsHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, 2002 (ISBN 100060185554; ISBN 139780060185558)