“The most important editorial principle that I’ve been pushing is authenticity, as trite as that sounds,” declared Noah Johnson, settling into a small round table in his corner office, a space partially adorned with dark wood paneling.
It was a September afternoon at Highsnobiety’s Manhattan headquarters, where Johnson now holds the editor-in-chief title. He was casually dressed in a white T-shirt, a denim zip-up jacket, and comfortable, unique leather shoes, with two vibrant neon tennis rackets peeking out of an L.L. Bean tote beside him.
Since taking the reins in January from Willa Bennett—who departed to lead Hearst’s Cosmopolitan and Seventeen—Johnson hasn’t added many personal touches to the office. Yet, David Fischer, Highsnobiety’s founder, confirmed Johnson was his first call when the coveted role opened up.
Johnson, 42, began his journey in lifestyle media at Complex, progressing through editorial roles at Style.com and Details, interspersed with freelance writing. By 2017, he landed at GQ, collaborating with Bennett, and eventually becoming its global style editor.
While he admits to cringing slightly at using the buzzword “authenticity,” he firmly believes it’s a powerful editorial strategy. Highsnobiety’s recent white paper, a collaborative effort with Boston Consulting Group, revealed that younger luxury consumers are actively seeking “stability and authenticity” in brands.
Johnson pointed to copies of Highsnobiety’s fall 2025 issue—his debut as editor. Its three distinct covers featured Turnstile, a punk band injecting hardcore energy into the mainstream; Odessa A’zion, an actress on the brink of stardom in Josh Safdie’s upcoming film “Marty Supreme”; and Kader, a professional skater known for his unique fashion sense.
“They’re all very famous in their own worlds, but perhaps not in the way a typical past Highsnobiety cover would be,” Johnson explained. Previous cover stars under Bennett included Billie Eilish, Marc Jacobs, and Pamela Anderson. He confessed an “allergy” to phrases like, “This is how we normally do it.”
The new issue also delves into craft and design, featuring profiles on sculptor Isamu Noguchi and British designer Margaret Howell. Johnson hopes to steer clear of the “generalist pop culture swirl” that characterizes many other publications. Under his guidance, Highsnobiety aims to cater to true “enthusiasts.”
The magazine, which earned a National Magazine Award for general excellence last year, is merely one facet of a broader brand. Highsnobiety began as a sneaker blog in 2005 and has since been transformed by founder David Fischer into a modern media powerhouse, complete with its own clothing line, an e-commerce platform, and a brand consultancy. Highsnobiety also hosts exclusive events, such as a dinner party held before last year’s Grammy Awards at the Château Marmont in West Hollywood.
As the workday concluded, Johnson swapped his attire for a crisp cobalt-blue button-up and headed to Sake Bar Asoko on East Broadway to welcome guests for a party celebrating his inaugural issue.
The shoebox-sized venue buzzed with guests as a DJ played subtly groovy vinyl. A pair of Vibram FiveFingers shoes made an appearance, and when asked about some uniquely textured socks tucked into loafers, one guest humorously declined to comment on the record.
Veronika Slowikowska, a recent addition to the “Saturday Night Live” cast, and comedian Kyle Chase were seen poring over a feature spread where they modeled fall plaids. Meanwhile, designer Emily Dawn Long navigated the crowded room, capturing moments with a silver point-and-shoot camera.
Long snapped a photo of Jian DeLeon, Nordstrom’s men’s fashion director and a former editorial director at Highsnobiety. DeLeon, who was hired by Johnson as a staff writer at Complex in 2011, noted that Johnson’s editorial vision brings Highsnobiety back to its roots, embodying “that sort of underground youthful spirit of rebellion.”
Another attendee, Tremaine Emory, the Denim Tears designer and former creative director of Supreme, mused on the enduring power of print media for discovery: “A magazine cover should be a road sign.”
From the bustling sidewalk outside, the plates of udon noodles at the back of the bar seemed impossibly distant. Designers Emily Adams Bode Aujla and Aurora James connected with Emory’s enormous, shaggy dog, who relaxed in the open trunk of a car.
Arianna Cho, the bar’s co-owner, gracefully maneuvered through the crowd in a Sacai dress to refill the glass of Highsnobiety’s deputy editor, Claire Landsbaum, who was engrossed in a conversation with writer Delia Cai—a contributor to the new issue.
“Noah is fabulously blunt,” Cai shared. “It’s very fun to bring him options for something and watch him make a dozen decisions in short order: Yes, yes, no, yes, definitely yes.”
“The vision is not a negotiation,” she concluded. “I like that.”