The spectacular life of Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet
Massenet was born in LA to former journalist and film publicist Bob. L Rooney and British model Barbara Jones, who was also a movie stand-in for Sophia Loren.
She spent her early childhood in Paris and moved back to LA at age 12 when her parents divorced. She spent a year in Tokyo as a fashion model and stylist, and was also a receptionist at Universal Studios.
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The idea for Net-a-Porter was inspired by Massenet's journalism career. She started out as a fashion journalist at Women's Wear Daily in 1991.
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She then moved on to Tatler in the UK after meeting her husband, hedge fund manager Arnaud Massenet, and being turned down for a job at Vogue. At Tatler, Massenet worked as editor Isabella Blow's assistant.
She left Tatler to go freelance in 2008, but never lost her publishing mindset. With Net-a-Porter, Massenet wanted to be able display an outfit in a similar way to how it would look in a magazine, but let people buy it online.
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Massenet is a self-made success story, and is credited with changing the way designer fashion is sold. She came up with the idea for Net-a-Porter when trying — and failing — to find products for a fashion shoot online.
“People always say to me ‘You’ve strived to redefine retail’ but the reality is I wanted to redefine magazines," she told the Evening Standard in 2013. "From the start we were always trying to blend the two, to buy [clothes and labels] in the same way a fashion editor would choose them.”
![“People always say to me ‘You’ve strived to redefine retail’ but the reality is I wanted to redefine magazines," she told the Evening Standard in 2013. "From the start we were always trying to blend the two, to buy [clothes and labels] in the same way a fashion editor would choose them.”](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-48794007,width-700,height-525,imgsize-235347/people-always-say-to-me-youve-strived-to-redefine-retail-but-the-reality-is-i-wanted-to-redefine-magazines-she-told-the-evening-standard-in-2013-from-the-start-we-were-always-trying-to-blend-the-two-to-buy-clothes-and-labels-in-the-same-way-a-fashion-editor-would-choose-them-.jpg)
At the beginning, Net-a-Porter was incredibly low key. Massenet raised £1.2 million with the help of her then-husband. Net-a-Porter's black delivery boxes were stored in her bathroom, and when the company made a sale, staff would shout "kerching!"
At first, designers found selling their clothing online incredibly unappealing?. But Massenet persuaded Rolan Mouret to sell his first collection on Net-a-Porter in 2001.
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By 2004 the company was profitable. Massenet launched a fashion discount site called The Outnet in 2009, and sold Net-a-Porter to Swiss luxury goods company Richemont in 2010.
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Massenet remained deeply involved in the running of the company as executive chairman and as an investor. The group launched a menswear site, Mr Porter, in 2011.
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Massenet and her husband also divorced that year. They have two daughters, Isabella, 15, and Ava, who is 10.
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Massenet is now in a relationship with Swedish photographer? Erik Tortensson.
In early 2014, Massenet launched a print magazine, Porter, with ex-Tatler colleague and former Harper's Bazaar editor Lucy Yeomans.
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The launch party was, of course, in Paris, and Massenet danced to Beyoncé’s "Crazy in Love" while surrounded by guests including Rihanna, according to The Evening Standard.
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Far from a fashion ice queen, Massenet is known for making things fun at Net-a-Porter. There are bi-monthly Margarita parties, and the team cut their own hair.
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Massenet received an MBE for services to the fashion industry in 2009, and took over as chairman of the British Fashion Council in 2013. She was made a Woman of the Year by Glamour in 2013, and has also been named one of Time's 100 most influential people.
Massenet can usually be found in the front row of every big catwalk show.
And she spends time in the company of celebs...
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She also visits the Prime Minister at Number 10.
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And has even dined with President Obama.
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Tatler editor Kate Reardon once wrote in Vanity Fair that Massenet has an uncanny ability to quote "When Harry Met Sally" by heart.
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The news that Massenet is leaving the company she built from scratch has come as a surprise to many. Bloomberg reports that Massenet leaves with over £100 million ($153 million) following the sale of shares in her company.
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The Financial Times reports that the decision is the result of a dispute with Richemont over the value of her company.
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Massenet sent a long email to Net-a-Porter staff informing them of her decision. She told her staff to strive to be the best, lead, exceed expectations, be smart and stylish, but still service others — which conveniently created the acronym BLESS.
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Maybe she will now be able to take a well-deserved break.
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