Habitually Chic®'s Logo  

Domino Dearly Missed…

by habituallychic

02 . 17 . 09

I love that Page 6 continues to chime in on the demise of Domino. Maybe it will persuade the powers that be at Conde Nasty to change their mind and bring the the fan favorite back from the magazine graveyard.

The ads might not have been there, but the readers were. Barely a month after Condé Nast folded Domino magazine, more than seven fan sites of the chic home-design magazine have sprung up, including a Facebook bereavement page. Many fans wonder why Si Newhouse shuttered Domino, which despite seeing ad sales decline had rising newsstand and subscription numbers. We doubt that if Newhouse pulled the plug on one of his other foundering books – like, say, Portfolio- such an outpouring of grief would occur.

Part of the gossip is that Portfolio is a favorite of Si Newhouse and that he would rather shutter other magazines to keep it afloat. (Does anyone even read Portfolio???) Rumor has it that Allure might be next. The real irony is that Domino subscribers will now receive Architectural Digest, the anti-Domino and the magazine most hated by the Domino demographic.

***UPDATE: If you call Conde Nast, they will gladly substitute whatever magazine you choose to replace Domino and you will not be stuck with AD if you already subscribe to it or do not want it. Take that Paige Rense!

The photo from The Devil Wear Prada seemed to suit this story. That’s all.

39 Comments
Comments Closed

  1. Anonymous February 17, 2009 | 7:02 pm

    I poured myself a glass of wine last night and sat down to enjoy the last issue. I savored every page. Every time I think about it being gone I get frustrated and incredulous, not to mention sad.

  2. Joanna February 17, 2009 | 7:06 pm

    I’m still mourning Domino, along with the rest of the design world. Interesting that Dominio subscribers will now be sent Architectural Digest. Fearing I’d be sent a magazine I didn’t want, I had phoned Conde Nast last week to request Vogue. Glad I had the foresight to do so!

  3. Habitually Chic February 17, 2009 | 7:11 pm

    Anonymous – I never dreamed it would happen so fast. That’s what upsets me especially since they had shot so many stories for the April issue!

    Joanna – I didn’t even know it was possible to request which magazine you wanted to replace Domino. Thanks for the tip! I definitely don’t want AD!

  4. little augury February 17, 2009 | 7:14 pm

    I started getting domino- as a fulfillment to the defunct house & garden.HG-my very favorite magazine (and at that point on its second round), as I was just warming up to domino-(I liked the content, I had to get used to the format)- NOW to hear that AD is on its way -Is a real disappointment- Though I subscribed for years- it is just too STERILE and flat- no creative content whatever, Fortunately design has moved past the AD world-as witnessed by HG and Domino.

  5. bill February 17, 2009 | 7:18 pm

    UGH! AD!? I was curious what I was going to be sent – I had just bought 2 subscriptions to Domino (one as a gift) when they folded (they actually cashed the check the day they announced the demise!) – do you really think we have a choice in what we receive? I DO NOT want AD. Thanks for the info HC!

  6. Habitually Chic February 17, 2009 | 7:32 pm

    Little Augury and Bill – I called Conde Nast and you can substitute any magazine you want for Domino! Woo Hoo! I requested Vanity Fair but they have many others.

    This is a link to the list of magazines and phone numbers, https://www.magazinestoresubscriptions.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContactUsView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001.

    I called the number for Vanity Fair and explained the situation. They’ll ask for your zip code and last name to look up your Domino account and they you can tell them which magazine you would like! Take that AD!

  7. coco+kelley February 17, 2009 | 7:38 pm

    I’ve yet to open my latest issue because I know it’s the last! Still so sad. And seriously, Architectural Digest? What are they thinking? I opted for Vogue as well. I’m still hoping for a Domino comeback…

  8. The Bean February 17, 2009 | 8:04 pm

    Boo to AD! I swear their editor in chief died ten years ago and they just keep her around “Weekend at Bernie’s” style pretending she’s still in charge.

  9. pillow mint February 17, 2009 | 8:14 pm

    I’ve sung my sad song to other blogs, so my apologies to those who have already heard it! Anyway, it goes like this: my store (Pillow Mint) was slated to be featured in the “Destinations” section for April’s issue. Rita Konig and her photography team were here taking photos as I was trying to breathe and collect myself! *My* store was going to be in Domino?! yee-haw!
    I barely had time to process the whole event when I heard that there WASN’T GOING TO BE AN April issue! Domino was done.
    Sigh. Disappointed is hardly the word…
    Curious folks can check out my website: http://www.pillowmint.net
    We can only hope that something even better will fill the void!

  10. maison21 February 17, 2009 | 8:19 pm

    great- now i’m going to get two copies of magazine i barely glance through.

  11. Anonymous February 17, 2009 | 8:21 pm

    what’s the number to call Conde Nast? I’d rather get Lucky or Vogue.

  12. Brilliant Asylum February 17, 2009 | 9:22 pm

    Thanks for the tip! I just had my unwanted AD switched to Vogue.

  13. Style Redux 2 February 17, 2009 | 10:02 pm

    I have had my last issue of Domino sitting on my desk for a week unopened-to do so would somehow be to acknowledge that this is it. I don’t want AD-I detest it. What if we all requested the Domino website stay up in lieu of a subscription? This recession is tough-“Every Day a Little Death”-A Little Night Music.

  14. Mrs. Blandings February 17, 2009 | 10:15 pm

    Heather – this is such helpful news. I was so relieved when my AD replacement subscription from HG’s demise finally ran out; I was dreading it coming again. Vanity Fair it is!

  15. Courtney February 17, 2009 | 10:58 pm

    Thanks for the tip. I too just requested Vanity Fair instead of AD.

  16. phoenix February 17, 2009 | 11:45 pm

    I was curious too, what we’d be sent in place of Domino…I’ll have to go take a look to see what there is, other than blah AD.

  17. Anonymous February 18, 2009 | 6:23 am

    In the vein of Jericho and the peanuts, maybe we could all send single dominos do Conde Nasty??

  18. SuSu February 18, 2009 | 6:35 am

    Thanks, HC, for the info – already get Vogue so I’ll be going for Gourmet which Ruth Reichel has truly modernized. I highly recommend it! So, if I can’t get my favorite shelter porn (love that phrase), I’ll just cook for my husband…sigh…

  19. frederick kambo February 18, 2009 | 11:05 am

    Hey I read Portfolio! And also greatly enjoy your blog. So there!

    Keep up the amazing work. (but I’m still pissed you abused Portfolio)

    http://www.aiyda.com

  20. Anonymous February 18, 2009 | 1:43 pm

    LET’S START A PETITION!!

  21. Jill February 18, 2009 | 2:02 pm

    Thank you so much for the info. I hate AD!

  22. Anonymous February 18, 2009 | 3:10 pm

    Thank you for the info – I too am sad for Domino’s departure and AD is hardly a suitable replacement. On the flip side, my husband really enjoys reading Portfolio.

  23. Taryn O'Neill February 18, 2009 | 4:07 pm

    Are there any ‘good’ (ie. useable) decorating magazines left? House Beautiful is the only one that comes to mind (though sometimes I find spreads in Dwell, Metropolitan Home and Elle Decor but not enough to subscribe). Architectural Digest should be left on the coffee tables of stuffy homes in Palm Beach and Palm Springs. The best decorating magazines now that Domino is gone? The Canadian ones: Style at Home and House & Home- whenever I am up north I plop down $12 at the airport and lug them both back- I need to find a way to subscribe from down here as they are fabulous. I still have my last edition of Domino wrapped in plastic – haven’t had the heart to open it. I am however, an avid reader of Portfolio and think you all owe it to your intellect to give it a chance. The wide array of topics covered and the contemporary writing style of each contributor makes it a very worthwhile read.

    Thanks for the reminder of being able to request another magazine instead of AD! I had let my Vogue subscription lapse so glad to be able to get it back.

  24. Amie Gillingham February 18, 2009 | 4:20 pm

    Do you know if any of the articles that were done for April will be dovetailed into any of CN’s other publications? While the publications are hardly comparible to Domino, the recently canned CRAFT magazine’s future articles are slated to appear in future issues of sister-publication MAKE.

  25. alice February 18, 2009 | 4:43 pm

    I’ve been meaning to find out what mag they will be sending me in it’s place! My Domino subscription was already extended from when they canceled House & Garden…. hmmm not so excited about Arch Digest… I wonder if they can transfer the subscription to one of their other magazines upon request???

  26. Anonymous February 18, 2009 | 5:10 pm

    I just mailed a single domino to Conde Nast. Felt good. Might make it a daily routine until they get the message.

  27. Joanna February 18, 2009 | 5:23 pm

    Wow, I didn’t realize so many people didn’t know they could request another Conde Nast title. Glad I mentioned it! 🙂

  28. ArchitectDesign February 18, 2009 | 6:00 pm

    Oh, I didn’t know about receiving AD! I LOVE AD, I know i’m one of the few -but it’s a more professional design magazine -not a home design magazine. But really thats a deal -the subscription price of AD is at least DOUBLE that of what domino was.

  29. The Rauths February 18, 2009 | 6:34 pm

    architectural digest, seriously??? ugh. that’s so not what i bought when i renewed my domino subscription before it went under. boo.

  30. Anonymous February 18, 2009 | 7:13 pm

    Architectural Digest! Just what I was looking for to line the cage for the new puppy training!

    That’s about all it’s good for. That ant what NOT to do in interior design, to be relevant. Thought I saw the latest issue on the HISTORY Channel under “for dinosaurs and relics”.

  31. kat February 18, 2009 | 8:03 pm

    And the real question is: why didn’t they get rid of Lucky? That mag is more and more disappointing every issue. Domino can’t be replaced; Lucky has competition far beyond itself in so many ways. I digress.. Domino’s dead and Lucky lives – to bring another B-list starlet to the cover and mediocre “fashion” suggestions and spreads, sandwiched between ads (which are far more entertaining than any of the content).
    Bitter? Moi?

  32. So Lovely February 18, 2009 | 9:22 pm

    Thank you so much for the tip. I had just re-ordered Domino in January. This is great news as I was not looking forward to AD. Its all a little elitist in these unstable times.

  33. Susan's Snippets February 18, 2009 | 9:57 pm

    HC – Ditto to what So Lovely so Lovingly said!

    so sad domino is dead

  34. Erin February 19, 2009 | 1:25 am

    Thanks so much to all commenters for the tips on choosing our replacement. I already subscribe to Lucky and Vogue, so I’m definitely going to request Vanity Fair instead of AD.

    I still haven’t opened my final issue. I need to be able to take the time to really enjoy every page! I’m not ready for Domino to be gone!

  35. Pink Wallpaper February 19, 2009 | 2:11 am

    i’m still just pissed…why would they think we would want AD? so sad…

  36. Anonymous February 22, 2009 | 8:52 am

    Man Portfolio SUCKS. I got it for a while. Worthless, dull, lifeless. I’m not surprised at all that Si likes it and wants to keep it afloat while dumping Domino. This is par for the course in the magazine business. (A business that’s run by @ssholes and weasels who don’t give a rat’s tail about the editors who actually bust their rumps to create the content in their publications.) BTW, The New Yorker is also a Conde Nast publication and never makes any money, but you don’t see them dumping that. Meanwhile V.F. and Vogue have so many ads, they more than make up for the other magazines.

  37. Anonymous February 26, 2009 | 1:23 am

    I just called and got my money back for the 2.5 years I had remaining on my subscription. If I can’t have my Domino I don’t want to give them any of my money! Just another option for anyone who might not want to choose a new magazine simply because Conde Nast said they had to 🙂

  38. Anonymous March 1, 2009 | 10:02 pm

    Well said! AD is no substitute for Domino! There is no substitute for Domino- unlike the MANY magazines composed primarily of ads.

  39. K April 3, 2009 | 3:58 pm

    FWIW, I just called since I haven’t really gotten notice of what is going on and was starting to get nervous about what magazine I was going to end up receiving. The woman at Vanity Fair told me that the subscription had been transferred to…..Glamour.

    In any case, I switched it to VF and they said the first issue will be June and will come in May.