The couple publish Pittsburgh Fashion Magazine

Pittsburgh may not be considered a fashion-savvy town, but Nick and Robyn Bracco are hoping to change that.

The couple publish Pittsburgh Fashion Magazine, which they started in February 2010.

With articles such as "How to Support the Steelers and Still Dress in Style" and sections on high fashion and celebrity fashion, their goal for the monthly magazine is to reach readers with the message that fashion is accessible to everyone.

As the magazine nears its one-year anniversary, the couple said they originally did not intend for it to become a career.

"For Nick, it was a creative outlet. We weren't looking to start a business, but it seems like that is what's happening," said Mrs. Bracco, editor of the magazine, which has five full-time and seven part-time employees plus contributing writers and an office on Liberty Avenue, Downtown.

The Braccos believe the response has been favorable to the message that fashion is for everyone, not just tall, thin models.

"Every woman, regardless of size, style, age and budget, should be able to pick up the magazine and see styles that appeal to them," Mrs. Bracco said.

Her work with children in Kenya on her doctoral dissertation in international education gives both of them a very down-to-earth approach to fashion.

With girls of their own, Mrs. Bracco emphasizes "the last thing I want to do is create a magazine that perpetuates the stereotype that you have to be tall, thin and possess a large budget in order to look and feel good about yourself."

Instead, she hopes the magazine inspires women to be aware of their body type, style and what works for them and dress within those parameters.

In addition to general information on fashion and beauty that applies to all women, the magazine also speaks to specific audiences, with recurring features including sections for men, petites, plus sizes, those older than 50 and children.

"We try to run the gamut on price ranges and budgets," Mrs. Bracco said.

"We have a Celebrity Fashion section in the magazine each month where we include photos of what the national celebrities are wearing, everyone from Samuel L. Jackson to Katy Perry to Julia Roberts.

"We interviewed Heidi Klum for our holiday issue, and we have some more big-name interviews coming up, but our emphasis is really on 'real' people more so than superstars. Our 'models' are sometimes real, working models and sometimes are everyday people," Mrs. Bracco said.

The couple, of Upper St. Clair, often will spot someone on the street they think has a great look and feature them in the magazine.

Shopping locally is encouraged, and local stores are featured in the magazine.

"There is a perception that shopping at boutiques is expensive, but if you know the stores, it's really no more expensive that other places," Mrs. Bracco said.

"It's a fun read with a conversational tone," Mrs. Bracco said.

Mr. and Mrs. Bracco have different backgrounds but complementary talents.

Mr. Bracco, originally from Munhall, had a career as a fashion photographer in New York and Los Angeles and now works for First National Bank.

Originally enrolled in medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Bracco left the program after six months to attend the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He completed the program, specializing in photography, and moved to Los Angeles during the 1980s.

"I was nearly penniless, living in my car in L.A. and with my last $5, I bought coffee and a Danish for a photographer I really respected and waited on his doorstep to show him my portfolio."

When an assistant didn't show up for work, Mr. Bracco was given an opportunity to fill in. He shot the poster for the movie "Lethal Weapon" that day, which led to other projects, including work on the "Terminator" movie series, "The Grifters" and a video with Janet Jackson, among others. Interested in fashion photography, he moved to New York and worked for Vogue and Vanity Fair.

He left the industry in the late 1990s to complete an accounting degree at Pitt.

Mrs. Bracco was raised in the Scenery Hill section of Washington County and is a former English teacher who is working on her doctorate, researching girls' education in rural Kenya and developing a "distance learning model" to help girls continue their education when they cannot physically be at school.

She taught in the public schools in Brooklyn, N.Y., while working on a master's degree at Columbia University. She said it was her favorite teaching job. "It was challenging because the students often faced many difficult situations," she said.