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Celebrated editor Anna Wintour announced this week that she is stepping down from Vogue (for real this time). However, a 2022 biography claimed that the iconic fashion editor may have considered leaving once before. Titled Anna: The Biography, the 456-page unauthorized book — published without Wintour’s involvement but citing sources such as close friends and colleagues — suggests that there was a time when she could have traded it all for a cushy job in the UK.
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Anna: The Biography
Allegedly, before the 2016 United States presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Anna was “believed to have been angling for an ambassadorship, which would have brought an end to her reign at Vogue,” the book states. It continues: “While Clinton thought Anna would have been a great ambassador, and nominating her was a possibility, she hadn’t begun a formal process for filling those positions, an advisor said. It was unclear to both the campaign and Anna’s boss that she had serious interest in it.”
Wintour has never been shy about her support for Clinton, even profiling the First Lady six times in Vogue. In 2016, Wintour led Vogue to make its first-ever political endorsement in the magazine’s 124-year history, supporting Clinton’s campaign. The decision drew significant backlash from media outlets and members of Wintour’s inner circle. But, in true Anna fashion, she has always done things her own way, something that has been evident from the start of her career.
Anna: The Biography Audio Book
Wintour joined Vogue in 1988 and made an impact almost immediately. Her debut cover, the November issue of that year, featured a model wearing a designer jacket and jeans. Jeans. A look never before seen on the cover of the glossy magazine, which had traditionally showcased more formal wear. This marked the beginning of Wintour’s signature approach: blending high and low fashion in Vogue’s pages, a bold move that earned both praise and criticism from industry peers.
Throughout her career, Wintour stayed true to her vision and was widely regarded as a fearless leader. Whether or not you believe the pages of The Devil Wears Prada, the famous 2003 novel (and later, a film starring Anne Hathaway) thought to be inspired by Wintour, she has long been known for her directness, influence (she has helped launch the careers of hundreds of designers), and, of course, her iconic black sunglasses.
The Devil Wears Prada a Novel
Although she is officially stepping down from her current role, Wintour will remain Vogue’s Global Editorial Director and Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer. A formal replacement has not yet been announced.
Buy Anna: The Biography by Amy Odell to learn more about Wintour’s life and career, before it sells out, and check out another one of our favorite Vogue-related books below.
In Vogue: An Illustrated History of the World’s Most Famous Fashion Magazine