Anna Wintour To Step Down As Vogue's Editor-In-Chief After 37 Years — A Look At Her Legacy

Anna Wintour, the iconic editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, is stepping down from the role after 37 years at the helm. The 75-year-old, who is one of the most recognised names in the world of fashion, announced her departure during a staff meeting on Wednesday, as confirmed by multiple US media outlets.

Wintour will retain her position as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue, overseeing major titles like Vanity Fair, GQ, Wired, and more. She will also maintain her leadership of the Met Gala, fashion’s premier annual event and a major fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

Wintour has a net worth of $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Known as much for her signature bob and sunglasses as for her iron grip on the fashion world, her story is far from over.

Wintour’s legacy began with a bold statement. Her first Vogue cover in November 1988 shocked the fashion world. Featuring Israeli model Michaela Bercu in a $10,000 Christian Lacroix jacket and $50 jeans, it broke convention—it was the first time denim appeared on a Vogue cover. That image became symbolic of Wintour’s vision—mixing high fashion with real-world accessibility.

Under Wintour, Vogue covers evolved from showcasing supermodels to featuring Hollywood stars, pop icons, and cultural influencers. She championed rising designers like Marc Jacobs, John Galliano, and Alexander McQueen, giving them a platform in the pages of Vogue.

In 2003, Wintour's reputation inspired The Devil Wears Prada, a novel written by former assistant Lauren Weisberger. The book was adapted into a film in 2006, with Meryl Streep playing the character supposedly inspired by Wintour, embodying the Vogue editor's 'ice queen' image. Far from offended, Wintour embraced the spotlight and even attended the film’s premiere.

Wintour’s leadership wasn’t without backlash. She faced heavy criticism for putting Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on the Vogue cover in 2014 — a move that critics called a dilution of fashion standards. But Wintour stood firm, arguing the duo had undeniable cultural relevance.

Not just her professional choices, but her fashion choices where also under the radar, as her love for fur also drew fire. In the '90s and 2000s, animal rights group PETA frequently targeted her, once even throwing a dead raccoon on her lunch plate at a restaurant. She remained unapologetic in her fashion choices.

In 2020, amid the Black Lives Matter movement, Wintour admitted Vogue had failed to elevate Black voices in fashion. She apologised to staff for not doing more to promote diversity among editors, photographers, and designers.

One of Wintour’s most enduring legacies is transforming the Met Gala from a New York socialite gathering into fashion’s most-watched red carpet spectacle. Since taking over as chair in 1995, she curated every aspect—theme, guest list, and aesthetics—turning it into a cultural phenomenon.