The sort of exit that was heard around the fashion world. Anna Wintour resigned as Editor in Chief of Vogue America after 37 years and the style Bible. A brilliant, yet an overstayed career.
While the announcement came as a sudden shock, it was not surprising. The Uber Magazine head time looked tenerous. The question: why did it take so long for the helmet bob hair styled head to leave?
The most powerful person in fashion steered Vogue to the top of the heap with celebrity covers, taking control of the Met Gala, hobnobbing with politicians, athletes and career boasting recommendations. Wintour set the dark sunglasses standard for magazine power editors.
Heydays Passed
London born Anna Wintour was born in a media, the daughter of newspaper head Charlie Wintour. After stints in the UK in 1988 Conde Nast tapped the connected maven to replace Mirabella as head of Vogue. The publications heyday in the 90’s saw Hollywood Stars gracing covers, a high-profile documentary on the famed September Issue, successful movie verily based on her life, the 75 year old courted a high-profile reputation befitting the Queen of the Fashion. The Louboutin wearer became a household name.
As social media wrestled the trendsetting control from publications, Vogue was caught on the wrong side of the digital realm. Photos shot by prestigious photographers no longer charmed the masses. Selfies, scrolling and hashtags, smartphones, ruled the media landscape, glossy print looked so last century. Anna with the industry were out of step, behind. Instead of setting the conversation, the Manhattanite moved in a fabulous bubble, three steps behind the curve.
As magazines lost their luster, fallen sales, the always midi skirt wearing diva doubled down on her apex position. Yet the dwindling kingdom was ever getting smaller with global staff layoffs, cheaper office digs, fewer titled editions, labor strikes, shrinking profits. The castle was under siege.
Wintour consolidated her grip at Conde Nast with the titles of Chief Content Officer and Global Editors. I wonder how large are her business cards? Giving up one role on the June 26th, Anna will keep the other two positions, certainly along with an office, expense account and front row seats at fashion weeks.
Vogue US is currently searching for Head of Editorial Content, not an Editor in Chief.