Anna Wintour’s name has somewhat become synonymous with high fashion. That’s thanks to her decades of groundbreaking work as the editor of Vogue magazine.
With her iconic bob and equally iconic Chanel sunglasses, the British born fashion journalist changed and continues to change the world of fashion for the better.
However, her legacy seems to be on the line as she and Vogue face controversies as former employees come out with stories against the publication.
Born for the Job
But first, let’s take a look back at the journey Wintour took to get to where she is today.
Given her family background, it would seem like the now-70-year-old editor was born for the job. After all, journalism runs in the family.
Her father, Charles, is considered to be one of the most influential journalists in the latter half of the 20th century. Wintour herself shares that it is from him that she learned how to persevere.
Meanwhile, she learned the ropes of ‘great reporting’ from her younger brother Patrick, who is an editor at The Guardian.
However, her love of fashion would take her career in a different direction.
Fashion Love Affair
Wintour began pursuing a career in fashion when she was just 15 years old and her father got her a job at a clothing store. From there, she trained at Harrods and landed a starting position at Harper’s & Queen.
Her sights would lead her to make the move to New York City where she worked as a junior fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar. Wintour’s tenure at Vogue would only begin after she returned to the United Kingdom and became the editor-in-chief at the magazine’s British publication.
Just a few years later, she took over American Vogue. Under her leadership, the magazine became the dominant fashion magazine in the United States.
Recent Accusations
Part of Wintour’s lasting success can be attributed to her work ethic and demanding nature as a boss. Her demeanor has even earned her the nickname ‘Nuclear Wintour’.
Unfortunately, her attitude might just be the cause of her downfall as well. Her former colleague and friend André Leon Talley recently came out to accuse her of being fatphobic and ageist.
Former employees have also shared stories of the racist environment they had to deal with while working at Vogue. The magazine’s parent company, Condé Nast, also received similar accusations.
All of these came down as race has become a hot topic once again, following the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement.