In the world of fashion, she is a dominant force. You will never see her without her signature dark sunglasses, and her perfectly sharp bob is as iconic as her famously cutting tongue. She can propel you to the top – or end your career for good. Meet Anna Wintour, the defining figure of Vogue.
The daughter of prominent British journalist Charles Wintour, she has long been known within the fashion and media worlds, but the wider public truly took notice only in 2006 with the film The Devil Wears Prada. Its sequel is currently in cinemas and has been met with great anticipation. The character of Miranda Priestly, the ruthless editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine, is famously inspired by Anna Wintour.She attended the premiere – naturally dressed in Prada – and, according to those present, was rather indulgent toward the film. Still, she could not resist noting that she is not quite as cynical and cold as Miranda, brilliantly portrayed by Meryl Streep. The novel that inspired the film, however, was written by her former assistant Lauren Weisberger… And Meryl Streep herself once remarked with irony that before filming the first installment, there had been certain complications: “The entire fashion world was afraid of Anna, so the costume designers struggled to source certain types of outfits.” That says it all.
The wrong shoes? You’re out!
Anna Wintour has impeccable taste – choose the wrong shade of shoes or an ill-fitting outfit, and she will dismiss you without hesitation. She is equally strict with her own style, particularly when it comes to the cut and length of her dresses. She favors long silhouettes, often paired with elegant coats, emphasizing a defined waist and clean lines that highlight the female figure. She loves black and white but is not afraid of bold or vibrant colors. Her dark sunglasses are legendary; she rarely removes them in public, claiming they help her conceal emotions and focus better. She moves among the world’s most powerful figures – at fashion shows, she has sat beside Queen Elizabeth II and other distinguished personalities. Designers have long trembled at what she might say about their collections – whether she would bury them or elevate them to the fashion equivalent of Olympus.
A revolutionary cover in jeans
She began her career in 1970 at Harper’s Bazaar. When she joined Vogue, she fundamentally reshaped the magazine’s content. Starting as a regular editor, her determination and ambition quickly propelled her to the top – and things began to change. She boldly combined high fashion with everyday style. Her first cover featuring model Michaela Bercu in a T-shirt and $50 jeans caused a sensation – revolutionary for its time. While it proved a success for the magazine, her relationships with staff were more complicated. Her cool, distant demeanor and often dismissive attitude earned her the nickname “the Ice Queen.”Former employees described the Vogue environment as psychologically demanding and at times even intimidating, far from a motivating atmosphere. She also faced public criticism – the magazine was long reproached for insufficient representation of ethnic diversity and cultures. Aware of this, Wintour publicly acknowledged her shortcomings in 2020 and even apologized to her staff. Since then, the editorial team has sought to open Vogue more to diverse perspectives.
Anna at the Oscars
Her recent announcement that she would step down as editor-in-chief came as a shock. After thirty-seven years in the role, she had become an enduring icon. “Anyone working in a creative field knows how important it is never to stop growing,” Wintour told her editors at her final meeting last June. “When I became editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove that there was a new, exciting way to lead an American fashion magazine. ”At the same time, she made it clear she was not disappearing from the fashion world. She continues to oversee content at Condé Nast and supervises all global editions of its flagship publication, Vogue. And she is making sure her name remains firmly in the public eye. At this year’s Oscars, it was not Meryl Streep accompanying Anne Hathaway – who plays Miranda’s assistant Andrea in The Devil Wears Prada – but Anna Wintour herself. She clearly enjoyed the parade of evening gowns, the photo calls, and the brief red-carpet interviews. Shortly before the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2, she also appeared on the cover of Vogue in a double portrait with Meryl Streep. Guess which of them looks more like the true “iron lady of fashion.” One thing is certain – Anna Wintour is not stepping away anytime soon.
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The author is a staff writer for Deník
An early riser
Work ethic and discipline have always been her greatest strengths. She wakes around 5:30 a.m. and plays tennis. Her meetings are short and efficient – she has no patience for wasted time or irrelevant conversation. She draws inspiration from designers’ work and is therefore a regular presence at fashion shows and major social events. Last year, she captivated audiences at Milan’s La Scala in a striking black-and-white combination of a maxi dress and a tailored coat during the Sustainable Fashion Awards. She also hosts grand events herself, most notably the legendary MET Gala – often dubbed “Anna Wintour Day” – held every first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Ticket prices run into the hundreds of thousands; last year, a seat cost more than CZK 1.5 million. Every guest must be personally approved by the famously exacting organizer.
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