Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour
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Name	Anna Wintour
Caption	Wintour in 2018
Birth date	3 November 1949
Birth place	London, England
Education	North London Collegiate School
Occupation	Journalist, editor
Title	Editor-in-Chief, *Vogue*, Global Chief Content Officer, Condé Nast, Artistic Director, Condé Nast
Spouse	David Shaffer, 1984, 1999
Partner	Shelby Bryan (2004–present)
Years active	1970–present

Anna Wintour is a British-American journalist and editor who has served as the editor-in-chief of *Vogue* since 1988 and the global chief content officer for Condé Nast since 2020. Renowned for her influential and often exacting leadership in the fashion industry, she has been credited with shaping contemporary fashion journalism and elevating the cultural status of *Vogue*. Her signature bob haircut and dark sunglasses have made her an instantly recognizable icon, and her career has been the inspiration for numerous works of fiction, most notably the novel and film The Devil Wears Prada.

Early Life and Education

Born in Hampstead, London, she is the eldest daughter of Charles Wintour, the former editor of the Evening Standard, and Eleanor Trego Baker, an American philanthropist. Her father's prominent position in British journalism provided an early exposure to media and publishing. She was educated at the independent North London Collegiate School but left at age 16, having reportedly clashed with its headmistress over the length of her hemline. She then began her career in fashion, taking a training course at Harrods before moving into journalism.

Career

Her early editorial career included positions at various fashion publications, starting with Harper's & Queen in London. She moved to New York City in 1975, working as a junior fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar. After a brief tenure as a fashion editor at *Viva*, she served as the fashion editor of *New York* magazine. In 1983, she was appointed creative director of *American Vogue*, but left after two years. She then spent a year as editor-in-chief of the British magazine *Home & Garden*, which she controversially revamped, before being appointed editor-in-chief of *British Vogue* in 1986. Her transformative tenure at Condé Nast's flagship title, *American Vogue*, began in 1988. She revolutionized the magazine by mixing high fashion with accessible elements, placing celebrities like Madonna on the cover, and emphasizing strong, narrative photography. Under her leadership, *Vogue*'s influence and circulation grew immensely. She also played a pivotal role in developing the Met Gala, the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, into a premier global cultural event. In 2013, she was appointed artistic director for all of Condé Nast, and in 2020, she was named global chief content officer.

Personal Life

She was married to child psychiatrist David Shaffer from 1984 until their divorce in 1999; they have two children, Charles and Katherine. Since 2004, she has been in a long-term relationship with investor and telecommunications executive Shelby Bryan. She maintains residences in New York City and Long Island. A dedicated fan of the sport, she is a regular attendee at the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open.

Philanthropy

She is a significant figure in charitable fundraising, primarily through her stewardship of the Met Gala, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. She has also been actively involved in political fundraising, hosting events for Democratic candidates including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden. She serves on the board of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and, through the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, has been instrumental in providing mentorship and financial support to emerging American designers. Her philanthropic efforts extend to health causes, including support for the NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital.

Impact and Legacy

Her impact on fashion journalism and the global fashion industry is profound. She is widely regarded as one of the most powerful figures in fashion, with an unparalleled ability to make or break designers' careers. Her editorial vision transformed *Vogue* into a cultural barometer. The portrayal of a formidable magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada, widely understood to be inspired by her, cemented her status as a pop culture icon. Her influence extends beyond print, shaping trends in celebrity culture, fashion photography, and retail marketing. In recognition of her services to fashion and journalism, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2017.

Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:British fashion editors Category:Vogue (magazine) people Category:Condé Nast people