Anna Wintour Leaves Vogue: The Symbolic End of an Era

Always in the front row, but never in the center, she chose her spot to control the photo angle. This detail, like her headlines, adhered to a strict editorial line: no improvisation, every story had to be mastered.

It is an announcement that shakes the quiet world of fashion: Anna Wintour is leaving the American editorial team of Vogue, after nearly four decades at its helm. However, she retains her strategic role within the media giant Condé Nast. At 75, this British icon continues to dominate the international scene. However, her departure symbolically marks the end of a major chapter in the contemporary history of fashion.

Wintour, here with the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the first to feature stars on the cover, such as Madonna or Gwyneth Paltrow. This decision, then considered heretical, aimed to bring fashion closer to popular culture while enhancing the magazine's prestige.
Wintour, here with the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the first to feature stars on the cover, such as Madonna or Gwyneth Paltrow. This decision, then considered heretical, aimed to bring fashion closer to popular culture while enhancing the magazine’s prestige.

A Legend Shaped by Audacity

Anna Wintour, recognizable among all thanks to her famous dark glasses, has never been just an editor-in-chief. She embodies absolute authority, the one who shapes trends and dictates good taste. Born in 1949 in London, she grew up surrounded by influential journalists, notably her father Charles Wintour, editor-in-chief of the Evening Standard. Very young, she frequented Swinging London, that vibrant cultural scene of the 1960s.

At just 16, she entered the journalism arena. Indeed, she was aware that fashion is a powerful tool of social and cultural expression. Quickly settled in New York, she became an essential figure in the field. From 1988, when she took the reins of American Vogue, she imposed her innovative vision. Thus, she placed on her first cover the model Michaela Bercu, simply dressed in jeans. This image revolutionized the traditional codes of the magazine and announced a new era: one where fashion and popular culture intertwine.

An Undisputed Reign

Always in the front row, but never in the center, she chose her spot to control the photo angle. This detail, like her headlines, adhered to a strict editorial line: no improvisation, every story had to be controlled.
Always in the front row, but never in the center, she chose her spot to control the photo angle. This detail, like her headlines, adhered to a strict editorial line: no improvisation, every story had to be controlled.

Under Wintour‘s direction, Vogue became an institution, essential for designers as well as celebrities. Many designers owe their international rise to her, such as Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, or Alexander McQueen. However, her rigorous, even icy management style earned her the nickname "Nuclear Wintour," revealing an authority as feared as it is respected.

This complex duality fascinates as much as it divides. Thus, her former assistant Lauren Weisberger was inspired by her to write The Devil Wears Prada in 2003. The 2006 film adaptation with Meryl Streep immortalizes an ambiguous image. Indeed, she is both tyrannical and admirable, now anchored in popular culture.

The Met Gala, a Lasting Legacy

Each guest at the Gala received specific instructions approved by her. The dress code became a narrative in itself, aligned with the museum theme of the year, transforming the evening into a living editorial.
Each guest at the Gala received specific instructions approved by her. The dress code became a narrative in itself, aligned with the museum theme of the year, transforming the evening into a living editorial.

Among her emblematic successes is the Met Gala, an unmissable event on the international social calendar. Each year, under her impetus, this evening raises millions of dollars. Indeed, it benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She transforms this gala into a global showcase, where celebrities, influencers, and top designers compete in creativity.

But Wintour’s reach extends far beyond the boundaries of fashion. Very politically engaged, she supports American Democrats. Moreover, she uses her vast network of influence to advocate for her social and cultural convictions.

Controversies and Reassessment

In recent years, however, Anna Wintour has faced growing criticism, particularly regarding the insufficient diversity within the magazine. Thus, during the Black Lives Matter movement, she publicly acknowledged her mistakes and promised concrete changes. The latest Met Gala, dedicated to black influence in fashion, illustrates this necessary shift towards greater inclusivity.

Despite these developments, her departure from the American editorial team sounds like the end of an era. It also marks a transition to a new era, where editorial leadership will need to be more open, more diverse, and more in tune with contemporary societal expectations.

A Complex and Anticipated Succession

The burning question now is that of her succession. No obvious name has yet emerged. This uncertainty reflects the exceptional weight of her legacy and the colossal challenge of taking over her position. Her departure leaves a vacancy that is not just editorial but also cultural and symbolic.

Anna Wintour remains active within Condé Nast on an international scale. However, her American withdrawal marks the end of a major chapter in the history of fashion journalism. Through this change, an entire generation today feels the end of a cultural landmark. It is akin to other great historical turning points in the media.

Ultimately, far from simply closing a door, this departure invites the fashion world to reinvent itself in the face of the new challenges of a century where diversity and inclusion become imperative. Wintour‘s reign at Vogue leaves behind an immense, complex, and fascinating legacy, ready to be revisited and perhaps transcended by those who will succeed her.

This article was written by Émilie Schwartz.