Anna Wintour Steps Down as Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief

On Thursday, Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue, stunned the media landscape by announcing her departure after over 30 years at the helm of the iconic fashion publication.

“It was all about power for her. It was like an aphrodisiac,” a staff member recalled in relation to Wintour’s commanding presence, as mentioned in Jerry Oppenheimer’s book, “Front Row: Anna Wintour.”

At 73, Wintour was very much inspired by Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada.” A colleague affirmed that the portrayal was strikingly accurate. In Amy Odell’s biography, “Anna: A Biography,” it’s noted that Wintour had three assistants to manage everything, from caring for her pets to organizing her wardrobe.

One former editor reminisced about the high expectations during Wintour’s presence: the unspoken rule was that she wouldn’t be caught wearing flats. The assistant also recalled how Wintour held high standards for the Met Gala, requiring assistance to ensure everything was flawless.

Merle Ginsberg, a veteran fashion journalist and ex-editor of several notable magazines, reflected on her challenging first meeting with Wintour. She received sharp advice on her attire prior to the interview, being told to wear a matching dress and coat with no stockings.

Despite following the instructions, Ginsberg found the interview to be daunting. “I remember her desk seemed miles away,” she mentioned, sharing how Wintour’s first question was, “If Patrick McCarthy hates me at W, why should I hire you?”

Wintour then prompted Ginsberg to pitch some story ideas, which were promptly dismissed. “She stopped me and said, ‘Vogue is a supermarket magazine. Those ideas are too highbrow,'” Ginsberg recalled, adding that this was not surprising given the outcome—she didn’t get the job.

A former Lucky Magazine staffer shared an equally chilling encounter with Wintour, recounting how she once left behind her wallet. When someone pointed it out, Wintour simply held her hand back without turning around, leaving a colleague to rush after her while she walked on.

Over the years, various stories have surfaced regarding Wintour’s quirks and habits. It seems she often rises early for her perfect bob hairstyle and is known to leave her sunglasses behind. Interestingly, she reportedly dislikes certain colors, like black, and is fond of British personalities.

In Oppenheimer’s “Front Row,” Laurie Schechter, who started as Wintour’s assistant and went on to become a style editor, described Wintour as “very mercurial.” She noted that Wintour was unlikely to help colleagues she viewed as competition.

Oppenheimer’s book also sheds light on the demanding nature with which Wintour treated Creative Staff fashion editors like Liz Tilberis and Grace Coddington when she was editor-in-chief of British Vogue.

“Anna always insisted on re-shoots of Coddington’s work, even when they were well done,” the author writes, highlighting Wintour’s tendency to treat even seasoned professionals with disdain.

Celebrity chef Jeffrey Zakarian offered a glimpse into Wintour’s culinary preferences, mentioning her peculiar lunch orders at the Ram’s Club, where she favored very rare beef patties along with creamy mashed potatoes.

Wintour, an almost mythical figure in the fashion world, has a reputation for being exacting. According to Michael Sekki Zaizlin in “Your Table Is Ready,” she is known for her intimidating presence during meals, with a low tolerance for mistakes.

Nevertheless, those who manage to meet her high expectations might find themselves rewarded, as Ginsberg observed, noting that hard-working assistants often earned promotions under her leadership.

Although stepping down from her role at Vogue, Wintour will continue to serve as Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer and Global Editorial Director for Vogue, with plans for the magazine to bring in a new editorial content director to report to her.

Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, shared that she expects Wintour will remain closely involved with Vogue, asserting, “I seriously doubt she’ll relinquish control of Vogue completely.”