Anna Wintour is seen outside Burberry during London’s 2019 Fashion Week. Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and artistic director of Condé Nast Publications, cuts a commanding and authoritative figure wherever she goes. And as the most powerful woman in fashion, she is scrutinized head to toe, her word is taken as gospel and she is revered within the industry.
Her influence extends beyond the silky confines of the fashion world, having raised millions for pet projects like the annual Met Gala, the highly anticipated fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute with a coveted guest list. So what does the most powerful woman in fashion wear?
Despite a rumoured yearly clothing allowance paid by Vogue and a job that advocates buying the latest and trendiest things, she surprisingly sticks to a signature style one best described as feminine and classic. So to mark Wintour’s 71st birthday on Nov. 3, we’re revisiting some of the fashion icon’s most legendary looks and gleaning lessons we can incorporate into our own personal style.
Fashion magazines like Vogue usually obsess about shoes, detailing the latest, the greatest and the must-have footwear of the season. Surprisingly, editor-in-chief Anna Wintour sticks to a classic slingback with a medium heel by Manolo Blahnik for daytime, which works with every outfit. For chilly days, her go-to footwear is knee-high boots. Heel heights and styles may come and go, but you’ll never find her in a wedge or a ridiculously tall stiletto. The trick to making one style of shoe work with your entire wardrobe is to keep it simple, demure and in a neutral colour.
Sunglasses are a booming business for designers since most people buy more than one in a variety of styles. The editor is famous for hers — dark, oversized and in a classic rectangular shape — and is rarely seen without them. Find the perfect frame to suit your face, free of embellishment and large logos, and you really only need to own one pair.
Wintour found the perfect hairstyle to suit her face years ago and has stuck to it since a bob with sharp bangs. The biggest change the famous bob has undergone over the years is that it has lightened in colour. Most hairdressers will suggest you change your hairstyle as you get older, as your face changes or the mood strikes for something different, but a simple, classic cut never goes out of style.
The one part of her wardrobe that Wintour tends to make a loud fashion statement with are her coats. She tends to favour classic animal prints, bold prints or, in this case, a beautiful floral embroidery. However, the shapes are still simple with classic cuts. The lesson here is that a great coat can hide a multitude of sins. It’s the first part of an outfit one notices, so invest in a spectacular piece. After all, winter is a dreary time of year and your image and your spirits need a boost.
Ennywealth
