The Magnifique Podcast
Hi guys! Welcome to Magnifique, your favorite fashion lovers podcast.
My names Gabrielle and I’m a fashion industry newb, though I’ve loved playing dress up for as long as I can remember. The fashion industry is an intimidating space, filled with elitist know-it-alls, it's hard to feel invited to learn about the rich history behind modern-day fashion.
I started this podcast because time after time, I've tried to find podcasts to learn more about hmm: how Gilded Age fashion influences modern-day attire, or Marc Jacobs being the reason for Louis Vuittons ready-to-wear line, OR how Levi Strauss pioneered Western Denim…and I'm met with a graveyard of results. I can't find anything! So I guess if I want something in this niche, I must do it myself. I invite you to join me as I expand my knowledge of the fashion space. Together we'll kinda be geniuses of fashion.
The Magnifique Podcast
Episode 15 - Anna Wintour: The Legend, The Discipline, and The Future of Vogue
Anna Wintour's influence in the fashion world is nothing short of legendary. This episode uncovers her groundbreaking editorial decisions, like the iconic moment when jeans first graced the cover of Vogue, and how she propelled 90s supermodels to stardom. We'll delve into her rigorous personal and professional discipline, her impactful management style, and her substantial legacy, including the renaming of the Met's Arts Costume Institute in her honor. We'll also discuss the controversies she's faced and her strides towards fostering diversity within Vogue. With whispers of her retirement in the air, we'll speculate on who might fill her formidable shoes and what the future could hold for this fashion titan. Join us for an insightful and engaging discussion about one of fashion's most influential figures.
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Hi everyone and welcome to Magnifique, your favorite fashion icon podcast. I'm your host, gabrielle, and today we discuss Miss Anna Wintour. But first, how are we? Personally, I feel like I could use about 12 million more hours in the weekend, but that's just me. I've been kind of trying to find more ways to be more social, especially as we move away from summer Slowly but surely. I know that my seasonal repression is gonna come back sooner than I think, so I've been trying to figure out how to be more social as somebody who typically hates being social. So this is so fun.
Speaker 1:More and more on TikTok, I've been seeing dinner parties all over and I've just I've been in my chef era as well. I made a bucket list this summer and one of my bucket list items was to become a master chef. So I've been in my chef era, anyway, and also, there's nothing I love more than a theme. So clearly I'd have to make this dinner party a themed dinner party, and I have spent many hours just daydreaming about it. But here's the thing. Then I think about the implications of hosting a dinner party, and I don't know if I love the idea of having a bunch of people in my house for an unknown period of time. If I could set like a time limit, I'd be golden. You know, hit a little, all right, let's party, but get out by 10 pm because I have a bedtime. I have a bedtime and I'm not pushing it, I'm not.
Speaker 1:Another reason I've been thinking about dinner parties is because my only life goal is to be cool. And, spoiler alert, people who want to be cool are never cool. So that really hurts. But I just feel like the coolest girls throw themed dinner parties and I just want to be a cool girl, so freaking bad. So but and then you think, what if someone doesn't show up? That's the most embarrassing part. If no one shows up, I've got all this food here. No one showed up. Are you joking? And I'm not in the business of being embarrassed. So I don't think I will try at all. How about that Dinner party out the window? We're not doing it. Another thing is I fear I've done nothing interesting this past week.
Speaker 1:Ideally, I'd like to get back into the gym and that's nothing to do with like the get skinny trend. That's unfortunately. I'm far happier when I'm consistently getting movement. The people are right and that annoys me, but also the gym is very boring. So showing up like really hard it's showing up at the gym makes me want to claw off my skin. I hate it so much. But once I'm there, we're good, we're fine. It's truly just getting their part, and you know what. The gym is two minutes from my house, so imagine how I feel.
Speaker 1:So today we talk about Anna Wintour. Who is she? What does she do? How did she get here? Why do we care about her at all? So glad you asked. Truly, I think Anna Wintour is so cool. I also, up until doing this research, I just convinced myself that her name is Anna Wintour instead of Winter. So if you hear me saying Wintour, go ahead and just like punch me in the face or something. That's fine, I'll allow it. But today we talk about Anna Wintour. She's so cool. I'm so excited to embark on this journey with you. She is the current editor-in-chief of Vogue US and is the global content advisor of Condé Nast. And lastly, among many, many other things, she serves as an elective trustee and as the president of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute's annual Met Gala. We did an episode about the Met Gala. If you feel so inclined, please go and listen to season one, episode 19. But to know Anna Wintour is to know that her entire life has led up to becoming editor-in-chief of Vogue and she's currently living out her dream. So let's talk about who she is and how'd she get here.
Speaker 1:So Anna was born on November 3rd 1949 in London, england. If you're an astrology girl, she's a Scorpio. So what does that say about her? Personally, as a Cancer Sun, I love Scorpios. I think. Going back to it, I think the coolest women are Scorpios, and that makes a lot of sense because I think Anna Wintour is the coolest. Go ahead, and especially if you're driving, go ahead and take a shot every time I talk about being cool.
Speaker 1:Her father was Charles Vier Wintour, editor of London's Evening Standard newspaper, and her mother was Eleanor Drago Baker. It appears we have an apple baby on our hands. Her father plays a big part in getting her into the fashion space. Her parents would go on to divorce in 1979. And then I'm needing to read this blurb straight out of Wikipedia, because it describes her family dynamic and just her family tree, and it's actually so insane. So let's hold hands, let's read this Wikipedia blurb.
Speaker 1:Winter was named after her maternal grandmother, anna Baker, a merchant's daughter from Pennsylvania after her maternal grandmother, anna Baker, a merchant's daughter from Pennsylvania. Audrey Slaughter, a magazine editor who founded publications including Honey and Petticoat, was her stepmother. Winter's grandfather was Major General Fitzgerald Winter, a British military officer and descendant of Prime Minister George Greenville. Through her paternal grandmother, alice Jane Blanche Foster Winter is a great-great-great-granddaughter of the late 18th century novelist, lady Elizabeth Foster, who was later the Duchess of Devonshire and her first husband, the Irish politician John Thomas Foster. Her great-great-great-great-grandfather was Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol, who served as the Anglican Bishop of Derry. Sir Augustus Verre Foster, 4th Baronet. The last Baronet of the name was the Grand Uncle of Winters. Last baronet of the name was the granduncle of Winters.
Speaker 1:She is the niece of Cordelia James, baroness James of Rusholm, the daughter of Fitzgerald Winter. Winter had four siblings. Her older brother, gerald, died in a traffic accident as a child. One of her younger brothers, patrick, is also a journalist, currently diplomatic editor of the Guardian. James and Nora Winter have worked in London local government for international non-governmental organizations respectively. That is insane, but anyway, that's her family tree.
Speaker 1:She's so cool and, like I said, her father is integral into getting her into the fashion space. So at the age of 15, her father got her her first job at Biba Boutique in London. But then, in 1966, just one year later, she drops out of North London Collegiate to begin training at Harrods, a luxury department store. But then, just four year later, she drops out of North London Collegiate to begin training at Harrods, a luxury department store. But then, just four years later, she becomes a fashion assistant for Harper's Queen magazine.
Speaker 1:She has fashion coursing through her veins, often finding herself in trouble at school for altering her school uniforms, one time even being written up and suspended, I believe, for hiking up her hemline on her skirt too far. More often than not, she's always violating that dress code. But for the sake of fashion, how about that? She also briefly attended a fashion school, but ultimately decided to drop out because she said you either know fashion or you don't, so talk your shit, sis. It has also been reported that she did display some mean girl behavior by mocking girls who weren't up to date on fashion and weren't wearing the trendy pieces wearing the trendy pieces. So shame on her, but also, nope, just shame on her.
Speaker 1:And during her time at North London Collegiate she met her forever hairstyle the bob. For those of you who are unaware of what a bob is. It is just a short, blunt, chin-length haircut that Anna Wintour is known for Moving on. Moving on to my least favorite man in this story, at the age of 16 or 17, her boyfriend 24 at the time, by the way, richard Neville helped her gain her first sort of fashion magazine experience by hiring her at his company, the Oz. Now the Oz is an independently published alternative magazine based out of London in the 60s. Now, one thing about Anna she knew she was going to end up as the editor-in-chief of Vogue one way or another, and she has been talking about it and manifesting it since she was young. So it's very endearing to watch her take these steps and getting closer and closer to achieving her goals.
Speaker 1:Then, in 1970, when Harper's Bazaar UK merged to become Harper's and Queen's Winter became one of its first editorial assistants, thus launching her career in fashion journalism, ultimately deciding to quit due to a chronic work-rival feud. So she embarks on her journey and into her new life in New York with her new boy, john Bradshaw and he is a contributing editor at Esquire. John Bradshaw and he is a contributing editor at Esquire. So now she's in New York. Welcome to New York. We've been waiting for you. What does she do in New York? That's such a great question.
Speaker 1:In New York she remains at Harper's Bazaar as junior fashion editor, though she was fired nine months later. She was a little too big for her bridges and was fired due in part to her innovative photo shoots, which, frankly, just meant that they were too sexual, according to glamobservercom, after being fired, her still boyfriend, john Bradshaw, lands her a job at Viva and this is an adult women's magazine as her first official fashion editor position. Thank you, john Bradshaw, you got her one step closer. He means nothing. Actually, this is the last time we're talking about him. She then continues to work as various fashion editors for a series of New York magazines, but in 1983, she meets her husband at Condé Nast, where she started working with Alex Lieberman. She and David Schaefer would go on to be wed in 1984. But, womp womp, they divorce in 1999. But before then they had a son and a daughter named Charles and Catherine.
Speaker 1:Fast forward just a slight bit. I'll give you this detail and we can jump back. She now has three grandchildren who at present, and according to justjarecom, call her a very non-traditional nickname. I'll give you like three seconds if you want to guess, but you won't guess it. So three, two, one. They call her dog. Her grandchildren at present call her dog due to and this is straight from her she told a source that her grandchildren call her dog due to her owning so many dogs. Spoiler alert she owns three dogs, all golden doodles. Mom, when I grow up, I'd like to be Anna Wintour I think she's the coolest, assuming that these golden doodles are rescued, but I know they are not. I know they are not, but I have a rescued golden doodle. So I'm really just a knockoff. Anna winter, aren't I?
Speaker 1:Amidst the divorce with david schaefer, newspapers and gossip columnists claimed that winter's affair with investor shelby brian actually was the catalyst of the end of the marriage with schaefer. So, alas, she's probably not a girl boss queen there. She definitely is not, but she declined to make a comment on this allegation when asked by the media. After working in New York, she then serves as editor for British Vogue and as editor for House and Garden in 1987, which she controversially relaunched when she came back to Vogue US. And wouldn't you know it? 1987, winter returns to the US and just 10 months later she lands editor-chief of Vogue her ultimate dream dream.
Speaker 1:The move came three years after the American launch of the French magazine Elle, which consistently threatened to reduce Vogue's circulation and advertising revenue. Her Vogue covers began featuring very prominent women, including actresses like Nicole Kidman, angelina Jolie, perhaps Hillary Clinton, rather than using exclusively models. She had a different vision. She was a figurehead in Democratic politics. She was a staunch Democrat and she supported numerous campaigns, including those of Hillary Clinton, barack Obama and Joe Biden. Winter's fundraising efforts for the Democratic candidates were substantial. Her connections within the political and entertainment industries were leveraged to support these causes, and her hiring of Hildy Keurig, a former Democratic fundraiser, further solidified her political influence within Vogue. Present day, vogue has since hired Jack Schlossberg, nephew of JFK, to be their new political correspondent, and the internet is eating this up. When it first was announced, it was all over my TikTok. I could not escape Jack Schlossberg reporting political news via the Vogue account. It was very strange, but hey, do what you gotta do.
Speaker 1:Throughout Winter's career, she was known for boosting other careers of fashion professionals as she completely reshaped the creative direction of Vogue, making way for many firsts on the Vogue cover, for example, being the first to display jeans on the cover. This came from her desire to mix lower, less expensive pieces with more high-end pieces to give the cover a little bit more edge. The exact look called for a Michaela Bercu $50 pair of jeans and a Christian LaCroix $10,000 bejeweled t-shirt. And this, coincidentally definitely not coincidental, it was strategic and planned was her first cover as editor-in-chief of Vogue US. To continue on the thought train of boosting careers, she loved to use more underground models and really contributed to the rise of 90s supermodels at the time. We should also note that during her time as editor then and as editor-in-chief now, she is very in control of any and everything regarding the edition of the magazine. It's reported that before, during and after any shoot she requires that everything must be approved by her. Every small decision is made by her and nothing goes unapproved, and doing this takes a lot of time. So Miss Winter also manages it all with three personal assistants. And, find you, she also oversees in addition to Vogue US. She oversees Teen Vogue, vogue Living and Men's Vogue. So she is a busy girl, she's so busy. So she is a busy girl, she's so busy.
Speaker 1:Another little tidbit about Miss Anna. She becomes known for her cold and dismissive demeanor, so much so that the movie the Devil Wears Prada, featuring Meryl Streep as Anna alongside Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, and her character in the movie is depicted as cold and rigid. Everything must be done in accordance to her liking or consider yourself fired. And while many of these characteristics held true for Anna at the time, she did not stray away from challenge. She spoke very highly of a colleague named Kate Betts, who often challenged Anna's ideas and, according to Anna, she grew very fond of her, even moving forward with writing an editor's letter that complimented Betts and wishing her well after Betts ultimately left the company. It should also be duly noted that while incredibly rigid in her work life, she is arguably more rigid with her personal life.
Speaker 1:So Anna is known for her rigorous schedule and she typically starts her day very, very early around 5.30, to engage in some physical activity before tending to business, arriving at work ahead of most 7.30am. She utilizes the downtime at fashion shows for strategic planning. Winter also prioritizes efficiency, often limiting social engagements and maintaining a quite strict meal plan. Everything is set out before. She doesn't have to make any decisions. Good on you, bestie. Four, she doesn't have to make any decisions. Good on you, bestie. Her discipline, lifestyle and focus heavily depends on protein-rich foods which she has kept consistent in her life over the years. And all of this occurs before her very strict 10 pm bedtime 10, 15 pm to be specific. So miss girl has she, has a strategy. She. She has a schedule. Everything works for her. I guess Many people find that very strange.
Speaker 1:Many people think she is strange. I think I love a schedule, I really do so. That seems normal to me. I'm looking at this and I'm like, yeah, she's successful. What did you expect Her to not have a rigid schedule? What are your thoughts on her very rigid schedule? I'd love to hear the goss.
Speaker 1:In 2014, anna Wintour's significant contributions to fashion were recognized with naming the Met's Arts Costume Institute in her honor. The center officially opened later that year with a ceremony attended by the First Lady, ms Michelle Obama, and Winter also gained further prominence in 2014 through her television appearance and by being named one of the most influential women in the world. Named one of the most influential women in the world, winter gained oversight of the Met Costume Institute and has held the honor of being president since 1995. She also stated that the first Met Gala that she attended as a guest, she couldn't afford a plate of food. So humble beginnings.
Speaker 1:Winter received numerous accolades for her contribution to fashion and journalism. In 2017, she was honored with Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire title and invested by Queen Elizabeth II. However, amidst her professional successes, winter faced public scrutiny. A 2020 memoir by former colleague highlighted personal and professional tensions. In addition, the Global Black Lives Matter movement prompted Winter and Vogue to acknowledge and address the past shortcomings in representing diversity. Winter issued an apology to staff for Vogue's complicity in racism, stating that the magazine had not found enough ways to elevate and give space to Black editors, writers, photographers, designers and other creators in the space in the space. But despite these challenges, winter's influence continued to grow, as evidenced by her promotion to Worldwide Chief Content Officer of Condé Nast in 2020. Recognizing her enduring impact, she was further honored with a member of the Order of Companions of Honor in 2023.
Speaker 1:She has had the most insane ride of a life. So let's talk about what is next, what could be next, what are our theories? As Ms Wintour ages and becomes older, as miss winter ages, many have begun to wonder who may replace her at the respective institutions. Rumors have been circulating since the mid-2000s about miss winter's retirement. Many people have been rumored to be her successor. Whenever her last days editor-in-chief may come. Many rumors, who's to say. At one point, it was rumored that Edward Inifel, the former CEO of British Vogue, would take her place. He was a major competitor to Anna Wintour, but he has since resigned himself at the beginning of 2024, leaving Sheoma Nadi as his predecessor. Nadi is now being mentioned in conversations discussed around Anna's replacement, though, at 74 years old, anna Winter still has no plans to go anywhere in the near future. What are your thoughts on that? No plans to go anywhere in the near future what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 1:Should she be a fashion editor whose job is to display what's cool and trendy? Should that be someone in their 70s job? Is that ageist? I don't know, but I have a comparison to make. Please, please, please, hang in with me. You know how taylor swift and I'm begging for mercy before I say this do you know how taylor swift has paid has paved the way for many women in the industry? However, in the same breath, she blocks other women from having major milestones in the industry. Ie blocking other women for taking her spot on the charts during her dead poet's society tortured poets department rollout, and there was a lot of controversy around that. Speaking like, the comparison I'm making is is Anna not like? Is Anna not pat like? Is Anna not passing the torch to another person to make history with Vogue, kind of like that. It kind of gives that to me, because she's made such strides and really changed the fashion industry and now she's not like wanting to leave.
Speaker 1:She is the longest standing editor-in-chief of Vogue, at 34 years. Some of her predecessors are Diane Vreeland, who was also very notorious for being difficult to work with, and Grace Mirabelle, whom Anna told directly that she wanted to take her job from her. So beef, I guess. If you don't mind, I have an Anna Wintour testimony. Please let me speak. Everything I have learned about her makes me adore her so much more.
Speaker 1:People know Anna as being very rigid and unwilling to budge in her decisions, due in part, possibly to having her career handed to her. I'll stand on that. She's a nubba baby, but she has cited herself that her father chose the fashion industry for her when he landed her the boutique job at just 15 years old. Anyway, people see Anna Winter as incredibly intimidating, but once they get to know her according to first-hand encounters, they beam over her and express their most sincere respect for her and, in my most humble opinion, knowing only what the internet has told me, I believe Anna is an incredibly ambitious woman who, at a young age, was thrown into an industry where she loved it. Who, at a young age, was thrown into an industry where she loved it but, in the same vein, knew nothing about navigating it. She had to learn the ropes, and quickly, if she wanted to survive, and that meant finding weaknesses in others. Maybe not the best strategy for making friends, but she achieved her goals, didn't she? Okay, mr Unaccomplished Also, can I say something? Yes, I can, because it's my podcast.
Speaker 1:A lot of the discourse about Anna has been quite negative, oftentimes referring to when she was a teenager to prove that she can manipulate people into giving her what she wants. I saw this occur many times in reports that would call back to her first breakthrough job and relationship with Richard Nivel and working at the Oz. Admittedly, we don't know anything about their relationship or the dynamic, but I'd like to discuss and recognize the fact that Anna was still a child in home. He was 24. I'm not coming for anyone here, but let's agree that that's weird. What does a 24 year old man have in common with a 17 year old Fashion isn't a valid reason enough. She could not have manipulated him. She is a child, he is an adult. Okay, anywho, I'm just tired of the narrative being twisted on the girl when homeboy was a fully functioning adult you do not get out of here Anyway. She fully functioning adults. You do not get out of here anyway. She is successful now. So, haha, I didn't even know who richard was until today. Okay, so that is anna winter. I adore her. Anna winter.
Speaker 1:Anna winter shouldn't be just a highly regarded and influential name. Anna Wintour shouldn't be just a highly regarded and influential name in this fashion space, in the feminine space. She should be an icon and figurehead for how to live out your dream. A nepo baby, for sure, and absolutely not going without help from others. She shows how to navigate a competitive and male-dominated business. She's an inspiration to women and business people everywhere, and I think it's inappropriate to 100%, wholeheartedly and unconditionally idolize any one person. That being said, I do look up to Anna in some ways and will be continuing to take inspo from her with me along my way. I think she's so cool.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's Anna Wintour. I hope you enjoyed this was a really fun and easy one for me to do because I was so enamored with who she is as a person. I think she's very misunderstood and incredibly talented editor and she has an amazing eye for fashion and I think we need to give her more props. I know the fashion space does give her more props, but I think we as a society needs to give her more grace and more props. But she is just another white woman, so maybe not, maybe not. That's okay too, but I hope you enjoyed, if you you did. Don't forget to follow us on all streaming platforms. Our links are in the description below, and that includes youtube, spotify, apple podcast, my instagrams, my pinterest. If you just want to say, hey, you can do that Really. Just, you can have it all, can't you? But yeah, I hope to see you next week. We talk athleisure and how it has riddled society forever, so I hope to see you there and until next time, peace out. Girl Scouts.
