Bernie Leser who launched Australian Vogue has passed away

After being tested on the local market in the early 1950s, Bernie Leser was appointed to launch the Australian version of the legendary Vogue magazine in 1959.
In an interview Leser said this of the launch:
"Quality was absolutely vital. We were much more interested in the quality of human relations and the quality of the product than money. The money came after that. We made a good profit but our shareholders were never greedy. We could have made more money had we approached it more in a Murdoch fashion, but the Newhouse family was different in its priorities."
Bernie was born in Germany and raised in New Zealand. He and his business partners purchased Vogue from Conde Nast in 1972 although in 1990 Conde Nast bought back the publication from Leser who had turned it into a money spinner. 
Bernie went on to become the vice president of Conde Nast Europe and Conde Nast USA . In 1987 he moved to New York after being appointed president of Conde Nast USA before returning to Australia  as chairman of Conde Nast Asia Pacific. He finally retired in 2000 and was a popular figure on the Sydney and Melbourne social circuit. His artists daughter Deborah Leser announced the death of her father on Facebook this morning.

Subo, Anna Wintour and More

Susan Boyle is in Sydney for an exclusive appearance on X Factor.  
Sony boss Denis Handlin took her on that all important harbour cruise yesterday to meet Susan's local family members and fans. What a sweet lady.
It's difficult to reconcile that the down-to-earth Subo is one of the major recording stars of the last ten years.

Meanwhile Vogue editors from around the world were summonsed to Tokyo by 'she who must be obeyed'- Anna Wintour for Japan's Fashion Night Out last Friday night and they complied.
Wintour reckons Japan is a major player in the fashion world and who are we to argue ?. Also in attendance Jonathon Newhouse  the chairman of Conde Naste International , publishers of Vogue.

Here's a snap of the 18 Vogue editors from all over the globe. Our own Kirstie Clements is second from the left.

Vogue Editors (left to right): Yolanda Sacristan, Spain (seated), Kirstie Clements Australia (middle), Anaita Adajania - India (back), Christiane Arp, Germany (seated), Angelica Cheung, China (standing), Franca Sozzani, Italy (seated), Mitsuko Watanabe - Japan (standing), Anna Wintour, America (seated), Emmanuelle Alt - France (reclining), Alexandra Shulman - Britain (seated), Victoria Davydova, Russia (standing), Anna Harvey, representing Brazil and Greece (seated), Seda Domanic - Turkey (seated), Myung Hee Lee - Korea (seated), Rosalie Huang -Taiwan (standing), Eva Hughes, Mexico and Latin America (standing), Paula Mateus - Portugal (seated)