Dame Anna Wintour has announced she will be stepping back as editor in chief of American Vogue after 37 years in the role.
While she will remain Vogue’s global editorial director, her departure from the US magazine has shocked the fashion community.
Co-founder and publisher of Gloss Magazine Jane McDonnell, who formerly worked at British Vogue with Anna Wintour, told Newstalk Breakfast that her departure has been speculated on for the past 10 years.
“If you think about her as a businesswoman, her long tenure is very unusual,” she said.
“I mean, she’s been in the position for 37 years, she’s really the epitome of the modern alpha female.
“If you think about it, Jeff Bezos left Amazon after 27 years, he couldn’t hack it.
“It’s one thing to get to the top, another thing to stay there – she is an incredible person.”
Anna Wintour at the 74th Annual Parsons Benefit held on May 24, 2023 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Image: Associated Press / AlamyMs McDonnell said the iconic Vogue chief was a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world.
“She was known as ‘Nuclear Winter’,” she said.
“I worked for Beatrix Miller before Anna and there were a lot of lovely British girls working there with titles.
“When she arrived, you could tell she wanted a meritocracy.
“She cleaned out the staff, she brought in new people – she did it all very, very fast, which was unlike the culture of British magazines at the time.”
'The world is watching fashion now'
According to Ms McDonnell, Ms Wintour’s legacy is strongest in the ways she influenced day-to-day style.
“Her ability to influence even the non-fashion people in small, almost imperceptible ways will be with us for a long time,” she said.
“All the change she brought in contributes to a more inclusive society – but the importance of fashion has gained a huge amount of significance under her leadership.
“The whole world is watching fashion now, and I think that’s one of her strongest legacies.”
Main image: Anna Wintour Alexander McQueen's Memorial at St Pauls Cathedral London, England. Image: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy. 20.09.10
