Forum Members React to Anna Wintour Stepping Down as Vogue Editor-in-Chief

After a monumental 37 years, Anna Wintour is to step down at Vogue as the magazine’s long-serving editor-in-chief. As a result, Wintour is now on the hunt for a head of editorial content for the American fashion bible. Wintour will remain as global editorial director of Vogue (and will also continue as chief content officer of parent company Condé Nast). Appointed in 1988 (replacing Grace Mirabella) as Vogue EIC, the London-born editor ultimately reshaped the fashion media landscape, transforming Vogue into a cultural force. Wintour’s first cover for November 1988 broke new ground. The revolutionary cover featured Israeli model Michaela Bercu in a $50 pair of Guess jeans and a heavily embellished Christian Lacroix sweater (priced at $10,000). Wintour’s final issue as editor-in-chief is unknown, and a successor will be appointed in due course.

“End of an era.” [lanvinray]

“I didn’t think I’d live to see the day. Rather than representing a possible renaissance for the magazine, a new EIC is probably just gonna accelerate its descent into pure irrelevancy.” [YohjiAddict]

“I feel conflicted. On one hand, I am happy to see her leave since things got really awful. On the other hand, I am afraid that whoever replaces her will be even worse.” [Avonlea]

“It will be curious trajectory Vogue US will take. But even so, she will continue to oversee how everything will work. It’s bittersweet, even if it had to come someday.” [AFWQ]

“From it’s being reported this won’t be a big structural change. She’s still overseeing the magazine (as well as the other CN titles), just not doing the day-to-day editor work. I don’t see the new person having much freedom to make radical changes, they’ll be lackeys like the ones in UK, France and Italy. Ultimately it’s still her magazine and her decisions.” [Marc10]

“Anna isn’t going anywhere, and will never be replaced. She will continue to oversee all of the Vogue‘s, and will hire a “content editor”, to do the day to day tasks at American Vogue. Nothing to see here.” [mepps]

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