Anna Wintour to step down as editor in chief of ‘Vogue’ after nearly 4 decades

The cultural icon will keep her roles as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director

MANILA, Philippines — US Vogue editor in chief (EIC) Anna Wintour announced her departure from the role after nearly four decades of editorship, according to the high fashion magazine.

As stated in the Vogue article, Wintour made her decision known during a staff meeting on Thursday, June 26. The decision comes as she shifts her focus to other roles at Condé Nast, Vogue’s mother company. 

From being the inspiration behind the character Miranda Priestly to hosting the Met Gala, Wintour has long been a fashion giant and pop culture icon, with her contributions to the industry marked by decades of editorial influence.

In her interview, she said that she looks forward to a new wave of editors who will continue the magazine’s legacy. “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,” she said.

Wintour is still expected to stay close to the revered fashion magazine as she continues her roles as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director.

Legacy in print

“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 said about her iconic editorial role.

Wintour first began her editorship at Vogue in 1988. Since then, she has made significant changes to the publication. According to a CNN report, Wintour’s first editorial cover featured Israeli model Michaela Bercu in stonewashed jeans — the first time jeans appeared on the cover of the publication. 

Her influence also transformed the prestigious Met Gala into the star-studded haute couture event it is known to be today; it is no longer dominated by New York elites alone, but is now attended by Hollywood actors, pop stars, and social media influencers, as reported by the  Australia Broadcasting Corporation.

It is also through Wintour that queer designers, such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, and Marc Jacobs, were able to slowly establish their fashion houses, as said in an article by USA Today. Her praises for these designers helped boost their works onto a bigger platform.

New era

Following Wintour’s departure, the search for a new head of editorial content (HOEC) is underway. “But how thrilling it will be… to work alongside someone new who will challenge us, inspire us, and make us all think about Vogue in a myriad of original ways,” Wintour said.

The new HOEC will work closely with Wintour, who remains responsible for the yearly MET Gala and Vogue World. Wintour is expected to still be involved in such cultural events and the fashion industry at large.

Some Condè Nast publications — including Vogue, Vanity Fair, and GQ — will still be under Wintour’s guidance and leadership. – with reports by Mikay Tormon/Rappler.com

Mikay Tormon is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sociology at the Ateneo de Manila University.