Anne Slowey, Elle's Fashion Accessories Editor and Joe Zee, Elle's Creative Director, test eleven contestants competing for a position at Elle magazine. Each of the contestants must compete in assistant-centered and editorial-centered challenges, the first being to make breakfast for Anne.

The contestants must dress mannequins for Anne following specific points. Later, the contestants are placed into two teams to find a "hidden gem" in town and write an article about it for the magazine.

The contestants are challenged to bring a fashionable mother & daughter to be in attendance for a birthday party they must design for Annie's niece, which will be featured on the trend page.

The contestants hit Henry Bendel to shop for an outfit for Anne, who is taking a last-minute trip. The group breaks up into teams to design and direct a photo shoot featuring a Tory Burch outfit. Tory appears on the show as a guest judge and helps Anne and Joe decide which team made her outfit look the best on the page.

The contestants search for the perfect gift for Anne to present to Amy Sacco, owner of the restaurant, Bungalow 8. For their editorial challenge, the contestants must attend a party with Anne and Joe and let them know who each celebrity guest is and why they are important before they greet Anne. After, they must take all this knowledge and assemble a “party page” for the magazine.

Never before seen footage, including freak-outs, poetry slams and fashion blunders

The contestants must prepare a hotel room for supermodel Maggie Rizer according to her list of demands. Next, Joe Zee tells them they are to put together a multi-page fashion layout complete with a photo shoot and supplies from the Elle closet.One of the contestants unleashes on Joe and Anne.

The remaining contestants hold a casting call to find the right model for a fashion spread in Elle Magazine. Next, the contestants discover a new designer and produce a fashion show to showcase their work.

The contestants interview with Roberta Myers, editor-in-chief of Elle magazine, and her input drastically changes the game for one of them. For their final challenge, the contestants must design a cover featuring Grammy-winner Eve; and Anne and Joe choose the winner.