Interviews – Media – Abigail Chisman
Abigail Chisman has been promoted from editor of Vogue Online, to editor of publishing company Conde Nast’s entire online operations. Cambridge University graduate Chisman, a self-confessed, champagne-quaffing socialite, studied fashion journalism before landing her first job at Conde Nast. We asked her about her new job and what the future holds
New title:Editor, Conde Nast Online, which includes the Vogue, GQ, Tatler and Traveler websites
Former title:Editor, Vogue Online
Time in former post:Three years
Date of birth: 8 May 1973
Reasons for changing position?
More responsibility, a faster computer, a brilliant assistant.
What will you miss most?
Glamming it up for the catwalk shows and playing fashion diva twice a year for the Vogue site.
What will you miss least?
Having to make room for the other fashion divas.
What are you most looking forward to?
Growing old and being able to lie to my grandchildren about my youthful exploits.
What are you least looking forward to?
Looking my age.
What are your personal ambitions?
To ride the London Eye clinging on to the outside!
What are your new responsibilities?
To live up to the expectations built by our exceptionally stylish sister brands in the real world. This includes making sure Vogue Online is the world’s leading fashion site and that GQ Online is most British men’s first port of call on the web.
What does the future hold for your company?
Bringing our readers not only top quality content, but the ability to act on our words too. To be able to book tickets to the films we recommend, book a table at a restaurant of our choosing, and view the catwalk shows in the four fashion capitals as they happen.
How did you become online editor?
I started my career at Conde Nast Online and worked from the bottom up. I began with work experience for GQ Online, while I was still a student. I suggested we write a daily fashion news page online for Vogue and, when I finally graduated after an MA course in fashion journalism at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London in 1997, I was appointed editor of Vogue Online.
Any pearls of wisdom for getting on in work or life?
Always play fair. Let people make minor mistakes before they make major ones, but never let other people’s faults bring you down.
What is the worst job you’ve ever done?
Playing hairdresser’s model for a salon in Westminster in 1989. I thought it was going to be really glamorous. However, they must have thought it was still the 1960s and gave me something not unrelated to a beehive and put me in pale pink lipstick. They then put the pictures in the window, which just happened to be on my way from the underground station to school.