Orange Coast magazine in Newport Beach recently rehired a familiar face in Martin Smith.
Smith, who was editor at Orange Coast from 1994 to 1998, is set to take on the magazine’s editor-in-chief role on Nov. 19.
He’s coming from the Los Angeles Times Magazine, where he is senior editor.
He’ll lead Orange Coast with executive editor Tina Borgatta.
The switch comes a few months after Orange Coast publisher Ruth Ko sold the monthly publication to Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications Corp. in July, which also owns Los Angeles magazine and other publications and radio stations.
Smith said that he is excited to help guide Orange Coast magazine “into its next phase.”
Ko, who’s been with the magazine for more than 30 years, recently wrote her last publisher’s column.
The news comes on the heels of other staff changes at Orange Coast.
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Orange Coast: Ko penned last publisher’s column |
Earlier this fall, the magazine said Linda Goldstein, former vice president of sales, was promoted to publisher.
Goldstein has been with Orange Coast for 26 years.
Emmis also hired Jeff Ditmire as president of the magazine. He oversees general operations.
Ditmire is the former publisher of Bonnier Corp.’s Florida group, which includes Florida Travel & Life and Home Miami publications.
He also worked for Emmis back in the late 1990s as advertising director and associate publisher of the company’s Atlanta magazine.
Orange Coast, which has circulation of 60,000, is known for its glossy covers of movie stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Pierce Brosnan and Jay Leno. The magazine is debating whether to continue its celebrity covers.
Lux Headbands
Huntington Beach-based Mary Lou’s Vintage Couture is getting the word out about its headbands.
The company, which makes accessories using vintage jewelry, said for the past two years headbands “have exploded into a fashion statement” and it wanted to piggyback on the trend.
Mary Lou’s Vintage has been sending out e-mail blasts to writers trying to get coverage, playing up the wares on its Web site and other sites such as Myspace.com.
Designer and owner Janet Brown said she tested out a few styles at local boutiques and “requests came pouring in for more styles.”
The collection includes headbands with enamel flowers, rhinestone and cameo brooches. They sell for $75 to $95.
The headbands are sold at boutiques, including Patina Boutique in Costa Mesa, Java Jean Bar in Anaheim Hills and Stephanie James Couture in Huntington Beach. Accessories are also sold at the Hard Rock Hotel and Bettie Page Boutique in Las Vegas
Brown launched the company last year.
She’s an avid collector of vintage clothes and decided to make her hobby into a business.
Her wares include headbands, women’s bracelets and belts with buckles adorned with enamel flowers and rhinestones.
The men’s line, which goes by the name Lou’s Kustoms, includes belt buckles with vintage emblems, parts of classic cars, cigarette cases and lighters.
The belts range from $150 to $250.
Hollywood Glamour
Newport Beach-based clothing maker Atwater is getting a lot of Hollywood exposure.
The edgy brand, which plays up graphics on its garb, is already worn by teens on MTV’s reality show “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County.”
Natasha Nelson, company spokeswoman, said the brand is also getting requests for garb for actors on the NBC show “Life” and for soccer star David Beckham, who wants surf trunks for an upcoming Pepsi commercial.
The buzz has helped business. The brand said it recently landed orders from Nordstrom Inc.
Specialized Expands
Irvine-based Specialized Marketing Services Inc., which handles direct response advertising campaigns, continues to expand its team.
The marketing shop recently hired Heather Nelch as director of client services to help grow work with existing clients.
Nelch previously worked as director of project management at Brilliant Blue, an Orange County marketing agency that focuses on digital media.
The move is part of the shop’s efforts to expand its services.
This summer, Specialized Marketing brought in a new creative director, Jeffrey Love.
He has been helping the shop lure more work.
Garrett Joins Airborne:
Ross Garrett, former publisher of Primedia Inc.’s Surfing Magazine in San Clemente, joined Airborne Media in San Clemente as group publisher and president of media. Airborne publishes books, owns Foam magazine and puts on events, including Girls Learn to Ride and Women Learn to Ride.
