FASHION FORWARD
Anna Wintour’s 37-year Vogue era ends. Her power doesn’t.
After nearly four decades at the helm, Anna Wintour is stepping down as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue. However, she will maintain significant influence within Condé Nast, continuing in her roles as the magazine’s global editorial director and the company’s global chief content officer, according to a statement from Vogue.
Wintour, who informed staff of the transition on Thursday, will no longer oversee the day-to-day operations of the U.S. edition. The position replacing her will now be titled “head of editorial content,” reporting directly to Wintour in her global capacity.
During her tenure as editor-in-chief, Wintour is credited with fundamentally reinventing Vogue. She transformed the publication into a powerful force that could shape and dictate fashion trends and designers. Her revolutionary approach was evident from her first issue in November 1988, featuring Israeli model Michaela Bercu in stonewashed jeans – an unprecedented choice for Vogue‘s cover. She continued to break traditional norms, including featuring a man on the cover for the first time in 1992 with Richard Gere alongside Cindy Crawford.
This strategic shift is part of a broader global restructuring within Condé Nast, rather than a retirement for Wintour. In 2020, she expanded her oversight to become Condé Nast’s chief content officer, managing all its global titles, including Vanity Fair, Wired, GQ, and Architectural Digest, with the exception of The New Yorker. The company has been moving towards this global editorial structure, with other international Vogue editions already operating with a “head of editorial content” reporting to Wintour.
“Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work,” Wintour told staff. “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.”
Her continued power extends beyond editorial roles; Wintour will also remain involved in the annual Met Gala, a major fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fashion wing, and Vogue World, the magazine’s traveling fashion and cultural event.
This change marks a seismic shift for American Vogue, opening a highly coveted position for fashion editors and creating an opportunity for the industry’s most influential publication to explore new directions in its content and leadership.
