W magazine has announced a series of staffing appointments, as part of an expansion of its fashion department. Katie Grand has been named contributing fashion creative director (commencing on 1 September), joining a group of collaborators who are renowned for their bold and provocative approach and history of challenging conventions. In addition, Sara Moonves has been hired as style director (commencing on 1 September), and Rickie De Sole has been promoted to fashion director, effective immediately.
 
In this newly-created position, Katie will advise on W’s creative and fashion direction, conceptualising and styling key fashion stories. Katie is the founder and editor in chief of LOVE magazine. She has contributed to publications including French and Italian Vogue, Industrie and Interview, served as fashion director for the youth culture magazine Dazed & Confused, and prior to LOVE, she was the founder of POP magazine.
 
With this appointment, W adds to its community of creative collaborators, who include Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, Melanie Ward, Benjamin Bruno, and Lotta Volkova. Over the past year, W has also enlisted guest creative collaborators such as Marc Ascoli and Terry Jones, as part of an ongoing strategy to create collectible issues.
 
As W’s style director, Sara Moonves will be responsible for styling fashion stories, covering the collections, and bringing a new generation of talent to the magazine. She joins W from American Vogue, where she had been a contributing fashion editor. Prior to that, Moonves served as senior fashion editor at T: The New York Times Style Magazine.
 
Rickie De Sole, who previously held the title of fashion market and accessories director, has been promoted to fashion director.