Suzy Menkes leaves International New York Times for Condé Nast

PARIS, France - Doyenne of fashion writers Suzy Menkes is to join Vogue after 25 years covering the catwalks for the International Herald Tribune, her new employer said on Monday.

Menkes' departure comes four months after the 125-year-old Paris-based IHT changed its name to the International New York Times, marking the end of a chapter in newspaper history.

Menkes, who is British, continued in her role as Style Editor after the name change in October 2013 and management stressed at the time that the re-branding would not affect the content of the newspaper.

In a statement on its websites, Vogue said the 70-year-old Menkes would join parent company Conde Nast as International Vogue Editor.

Menkes was "hugely influential and respected" and would bring her "keen insight" into the fashion industry to the job, said Jonathan Newhouse, Conde Nast International chief executive.

Menkes, who will write for all the international Vogue websites, added in the statement that after "25 years at the International Herald Tribune" it was the "perfect time to embrace a new challenge in the digital age".

Founded by publisher Gordon Bennett, the IHT began life as the European edition of his New York Herald newspaper catering for American expats in Paris.

It was known as the New York Herald Tribune in 1960 when actress Jean Seberg appeared in Jean-Luc Godard's film "Breathless" selling copies on the Champs-Elysees.