THE REAL FASHION QUEEN
In the global fashion scene, Anna Wintour, 70, is renowned for her signature look of a timeless bob hairstyle and black Chanel sunglasses. As the influential figurehead of Vogue and Creative Director of Condé Nast, she’s often referred to as the “ice queen” and fashion devil,” known for her serious and cold demeanor.
The saying “eyes can’t deceive” is likely another reason why Wintour consistently wears black sunglasses. In a 2019, she told CNN that she wore them because she found them “incredibly useful … you avoid people knowing what you’re thinking about”. “I can sit in a show and if I am bored out of my mind, nobody will notice,” she said.
At the beginning of 2024, US media highlighted her stepping into the new year with the announcement of staff layoffs at Condé Nast. The layoff happened because they decided to combine Pitchfork and GQ. However, what garnered more attention was when Allison Hussey, a former Pitchfork writer, posted on social media that she “did not remove her sunglasses while she was telling us that we were about to get canned”. “The indecency we’ve seen from upper management this week is appalling,” she added. Yet, it couldn’t be confirmed what Wintour felt or thought because she wore her iconic black sunglasses, which she calls it as her “armor”.
Before becoming the forefront figure of the fashion industry, Anna Wintour had to undergo numerous trials before securing her position at Vogue. Starting in 1970 as the first assistant editor at Harpers & Queen magazine, she expressed her desire to become an editor at Vogue. In 1975, she left her previous job and moved to New York, taking on the role of junior fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar US. Despite facing setbacks and being dismissed for not understanding American women’s fashion, she persisted. After a two-year break, she continued her journey in the fashion world.
In 1980, Wintour got another chance as an editor at the newly launched women’s magazine, Savvy. While initially successful, she eventually felt unchallenged and transitioned to become the fashion editor at New York magazine. Her columns and fashion shoots gained attention, and she noticed that featuring well-known personalities on the cover significantly boosted sales.
In the 1980s, Vogue faced challenges as Elle magazine gained popularity. Condé Nast executives sought fresh ideas to fill the gap, fearing Vogue was becoming outdated compared to London’s edgier media scene. Wintour, known for her sharpness and style in New York’s print media, was proposed as Creative Director to prevent her potential recruitment by the rival magazine.
When Vogue UK sought a new editor, she returned to London. During her brief time in the position, she earned the nickname “Nuclear Wintour” for her radical revamp of the magazine, leading to some colleagues not wanting to work with her. Eventually, she moved back to the US and became the editor of House & Garden, rebranding it as HG and incorporating fashion, which quickly gained popularity among both readers and advertisers.
With her experience and innovative strategies in magazine transformation, Wintour’s appointment as the editor-in-chief of Vogue America was a testament to her abilities. Her dream since entering the industry finally came true, and the debut cover of Vogue America under her leadership received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
In defiance of criticisms and resistance from the original team, she broke Vogue’s traditional mold which always featured a straight-faced model adorned with bold jewelry, luxurious clothing brands, and photographed in a studio setting on its cover. Her new cover idea, which later became iconic, put Israeli model Michaela Bercu in a Christian Lacroix beaded jacket worth $10,000 paired with $50 jeans from Guess, and smiling in a natural light on the street.
Although it wasn’t intentional, she instinctively selected it to convey a message as a new trendsetter. The new cover sparked both positive and negative debates, but effectively widened the magazine’s reach, changing the perception of high fashion as solely luxurious clothing and designer’s brands to more casual looks that allow more fun through mixand-match approach. The magazine began demonstrating progressive thinking as well as addressing social issues under the leadership of Wintour.
Apart from her magazine work, Anna Wintour plays a vital role in shaping the annual Met Gala, a big fundraising event for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City. Since she has taken the reins in 1995, Wintour turned it into a massive fashion extravaganza, often called “The Super Bowl of Fashion” or “The Oscars of Fashion.” Each year, the Met Gala has a theme, drawing stars and celebrities in just like the Oscars. Thanks to Wintour’s influence, it’s raised over $12 million USD.
Though often seen as cold and distant in her role as an editor, Wintour’s softer side shines through when it comes to her two children, especially Bee Shaffer, her daughter, whom she often takes out to events. But she doesn’t forget about her beloved son, Charles, whom she recently talked about regarding his frontline medical work during the pandemic.
“My son is a doctor. He is currently quite ill and selfquarantining at home. But when he is able, he will return to the ICU at his local hospital. I am so proud of him and so grateful to all the health workers, first responders, nurses, and doctors, who are fighting to reduce the spread of the virus,” Wintour said, showing the rarely seen side of her.
Despite her reputation for being picky, unfriendly, and self-centered, everything was solely for immaculate work. Her professionalism leaves no room for overlooking even the smallest flaw. Every piece of work must be perfect before it’s released to the public eye. With so many eyes on her, Wintour knows too well that any mistake or misstep will make it challenging for her and Vogue to reclaim the glory.
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