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Teri Agins, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, has lived a life filled with invigorating experiences, innovative storytelling, and of course, incandescent style. Though she was known in high school for always being dressed to the nines, it took Agins some time to grow into her unprecedented career. Now, after serving over three decades in the industry, Agins has established herself as one of the most prominent journalists in the field, as her work stands the test of time and has yet to lose its relevancy.
Agins first tried her hand at writing in high school, where she had a routine column dubbed ‘Teri’s Tips for Fashion Flair’. From a young age, Agins was fascinated with magazines such as Vogue and Seventeen Magazine, so it was natural for her to dabble in fashion writing herself. Despite her attraction to the world of journalism, Agins pursued an education at Wesley College, studying English and Political Science. During her academic career, Agins interned at several publications including the Kansas City Star and The Boston Star. In the midst of her academic pursuits, Agins bore witness to a watershed moment in journalism history– the ‘Watergate Scandal’. This notorious event illuminated the vital importance of powerful storytelling, while also emphasizing the immense responsibility journalists have to serve the public and uncover the truth for the betterment of society. Additionally, the infamous event served as a clarion call to a new generation of reporters.
“Everyone wanted to be an investigative reporter,” Agins commented, reminiscing about the era in which her journalistic career truly blossomed.
Agins’s formal journalism training came about while she was pursuing her Master’s degree at the University of Missouri. At this time, the budding wordsmith was invited to New York City to report on a prestigious exhibition showcasing men’s fashion. During this occasion, fate presented her with the opportunity to encounter the illustrious Pierre Cordon, an Italian-born French designer who had left an indelible mark in the world of luxury menswear.
Reveling in the experience of dwelling overseas, namely Peru and Brazil, Agins took up freelance writing. Her commendable repertoire includes an array of contributions to eminent publications, including The New York Times and Time Magazine.
Once returning to New York City, Agins made her debut at The Wall Street Journal in 1984, where her focus was primarily on hard-hitting business stories. As the only Black female reporter in the publication’s New York bureau of 100 people, Agins embraced the realization that her position held a distinct and fresh perspective.
Agins left such an enduring impression on her employers that within a few short years of her tenure at the publication, she was bestowed with the unparalleled honor of forging a new frontier– the fashion beat. In a groundbreaking move, Agins proclaimed her status as The Wall Street Journal‘s first-ever writer to routinely cover the fashion industry.
“I don’t consider myself a fashion reporter,” the columnist revealed. For Agins, developing business-centric stories was the best angle to approach any narrative. Leveraging her impressive history in business and politics, Agins brought a novel level of authenticity to the world of fashion journalism. With the Wall Street Journal’s distinctive target audience in mind, Agins strived to produce sartorial tales that were as appealing to the masses as they were to fashion’s elite.
Agins’s illustrious tenure at The Wall Street Journal has secured her an unrivaled level of credibility, despite her being a Black female at the crossroads of the cut-throat worlds of fashion and journalism. However, her writing style, steeped in unadulterated truth and devoid of frivolity, has caused a commotion among designers who felt exposed by her unflinching penmanship. Agins has remained steadfast in her commitment to authentic journalism, prioritizing the truth and ethics in all her writing endeavors, always with deep regard for her audience.
In 1997, Agins took a leave of absence from The Wall Street Journal to embark on a new chapter– developing her first book. “The End of Fashion: The Mass Marketing of the Clothing Business Forever”, analyzed how mass marketing, increased accessibility, and enhanced consumerism adjusted the fashion industry. Agins was truly ahead of her time in evaluating the democratization of fashion, a topic that is now hotly debated at the forefront of industry conversations.
“This was just reporting… deep, deep reporting,” the esteemed writer concluded about her venture with book writing as opposed to standard journalism. When she discovered the significant changes in operations, development, and brand strategy brought about by the acquisition of the French “House of Ungaro” by the Italian-based brand Ferragamo, Agins knew that developing “The End of Fashion” was more timely than ever. Agins ventured back and forth to Paris to uncover and seek answers from the courtiers themselves, truly claiming her role as a high-fashion observer.
“The rigor of the reporting at The Wall Street Journal prepared me,” admitted the writer, who approached book writing with a candid eye, committed to honesty and transparency in her writing.
With the publication of ‘The End of Fashion”,’ Agins gained wider recognition and a larger audience. She went on a book tour to various cities and appeared on several TV shows to promote the book, even landing a coveted spot on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
“I loved getting into the broadcast side of things as opposed to print,” Agins confessed. The famed writer is now a frequent presence on television, having been invited to appear on several popular primetime programs, including “Project Runway,” “The View,” “The Today Show,” CNN, and more.
When it comes to getting the scoop on fashion’s most influential figures, few can rival Agins’s skill. In 2003, she landed an exclusive interview with the formidable Anna Wintour, peeling back the layers of the Vogue editor’s iconic and quintessential style. Agins dove headfirst into the burning questions on everyone’s minds, including the reasons behind Wintour’s iconic “blackout” Chanel sunglasses, and purse-free ensembles.
“‘Teri, your story is the talk of the tent,’” Agins recalled, impersonating her friend, the esteemed Andre Leon Talley. He was referring to the large, white tents that once housed New York Fashion Week in Bryant Park. Agins’s interview with Wintour created a buzz throughout the hub of American fashion. The respected writer shed light on Wintour’s enigmatic persona, making her story go down in fashion history forever.
As a result the next year, the Council of Fashion Designers of America bestowed Agins with the “Eugenia Sheppard Award for Excellence in Fashion Journalism” in 2004, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished writers in the industry.
Agins fondly looked back on her unforgettable night, reflecting that “it was a lot of fun, it was like prom night”. Notably, she had borrowed a white bodycon Vera Wang gown for the occasion, as she maintained her journalistic integrity by refusing to accept free merchandise.
Agins attributes the distinction of her work from the masses to the insatiable hunger and passion she and her fellow journalists of her era had for being completely absorbed in their craft.
“It’s the work ethic, being totally immersed in the work,” the writer identified. According to Agins, there was a fierce cohort of Black journalists who, like herself, were dedicated to telling the stories of the fashion world with tenacity and zeal. Among these standout writers were Robin Givhan, Constance White, and the legendary Andre Leon Talley, who Agins credits with having an “encyclopedic knowledge of the fashion industry.”
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Years later in 2014, Agins unleashed her second book, “Hijacking The Runway”, which was another witty and unapologetic exposé of the ever-evolving fashion industry. She expertly breaks down how social media and the new-found accessibility of fashion have shifted power away from the elite few, shattering the once-unassailable exclusivity of the industry.
Teri Agins stands out as a pioneering voice in the world of fashion journalism, offering her readers a unique blend of insight, expertise, and fearless commentary. During her remarkable career, she has covered the fashion industry with an unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity, and class. Agins’s ability to decipher and analyze the complex nuances of fashion, business, and politics has earned her a legion of loyal readers who rely on her insightful critiques and thoughtful observations. Agins has not only informed but also challenged her readers to think critically about the role of fashion in our society at large. As the fashion world continues to evolve, Agins’s legacy will undoubtedly remain a relevant and valuable resource for future scholars and fashion enthusiasts.
For more information about Teri Agins or to keep up with the latest, follow her Instagram, @teriagins.
KYN CODED 
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