One of the most prominent figures in global fashion, Anna Wintour has stepped down as editor-in-chief of US Vogue after 37 years at the helm.
Wintour, 75, made the announcement on Thursday at a staff meeting.
She won’t be entirely gone from the fashion world, however, as she’ll continue in her roles as Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast—overseeing editorial for brands including WIRED, Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Tatler, World of Interiors, Allure, Teen Vogue, Ars Technica, and Them globally.
She’ll also continue as the Global Editorial Director for Vogue, meaning the new head of editorial content at Vogue US will report directly to Wintour. The addition of a new lead will allow Wintour greater time and flexibility to support the other global markets that Condé Nast serves, according to the publication.
“Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work. When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine,” Wintour reportedly told Vogue staff.
“Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be. And that is exactly the kind of person we need to now look for to be HOEC for US Vogue.”
Who is Anna Wintour?
Born in Britain, Wintour became editor-in-chief of US Vogue in 1988 and subsequently transformed it into the influential name that it holds today, known for setting trends and impacting the sway of celebrities and brand names.
“Across more than three decades’ worth of issues of Vogue and its spinoffs, she has defined not only fashion but also beauty standards, telling millions of people what to buy, how to look, and who to care about,” wrote fashion journalist Amy Odell in Anna: The Biography.
Wintour’s leadership style is known to be decisive and blunt, and she’s often seen as a centre-figure at runway shows and the Met Gala, sporting her signature bob haircut and sunglasses.
Her father, Charles, had been the editor of the British newspaper The Evening Standard and had been given the nickname “Chilly Charlie”. In similar fashion, Anna’s leadership at Vogue saw her given the nickname “Nuclear Wintour”.
Addressing the label years later on 60 minutes, Wintour sharp-wittedly said: “If I’m such a bitch then they must really be a glutton for punishment, because they’re still here.”
“If one comes across as sometimes being cold or brusque, it’s simply because I’m striving for the best.”
Wintour was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former US president Joe Biden. She was also made a British dame in 2017 and became a companion of honour (an elite recognition) in February this year.