Mirror Review
June 27, 2025
Summary:
- Anna Wintour steps down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after nearly 40 years.
- Wintour will retain her powerful roles as Condé Nast’s Chief Content Officer and Global Editorial Director for Vogue, continuing to shape the brand’s global vision.
- Vogue U.S. will hire a new Head of Editorial Content, who will report directly to Wintour.
A Change in Title, Not in Power
It may sound like the end of an era—but Anna Wintour’s latest move is more of a step up than a step down.
In her meeting with Vogue staff, Wintour called this moment pivotal and personal, stating:
“Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work. When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine,” she said.
“Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be. And that is exactly the kind of person we need to now look for to be HOEC for US Vogue.”
Anna Wintour’s role as Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast will continue.
She will also oversee editorial for brands including Vanity Fair, Teen Vogue, GQ, Wired, Tatler, AD, Condé Nast Traveler, Bon Appétit, Glamour, World of Interiors, Ars Technica, Them and Allure.
The upcoming Head of Editorial Content (HOEC) will lead the daily operations of Vogue US and report directly to Wintour. This will allow Wintour to free herself up to focus more intently on this vast global remit.
Wintour also remains Global Editorial Director for Vogue, shaping the brand’s vision across editions in the UK, France, Italy, India, China, Japan, and more.
In short: she’s not stepping down — she’s stepping up to a global command role.
The Wintour Legacy: 5 Ways Anna Wintour Redefined Fashion
Anna Wintour didn’t just edit a magazine; she shaped an industry. Here are five huge moments that defined her reign:
1. The Revolutionary First Cover (1988)
Wintour broke every rule with her very first cover in November 1988.
The cover featured Israeli model Michaela Bercu in a $10,000 Christian Lacroix jacket and a pair of $50 stonewashed jeans.
This was the first time denim ever appeared on Vogue’s cover, and it marked the start of a new era of mixing high and low fashion.
2. Nurtured Careers Of Emerging Designers
Wintour has been key in launching and nurturing the careers of numerous designers.
She provided early exposure and strong support to talents like Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, and John Galliano.
This mentorship extends to initiatives like the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which provides financial and mentorship assistance to young designers.
3. Putting a Man on the Vogue Cover
For a century, Vogue’s cover was exclusively for women.
Then in 1992, Wintour broke that tradition by featuring Richard Gere alongside his then-wife, Cindy Crawford.
Richard is featured in the Guinness World Records as “The first man to appear on the cover of American Vogue magazine.”
4. Pioneer of the Vogue Celebrity Cover
Anna Wintour normalized what’s now standard: celebrities on the cover of high-fashion covers.
Stars like Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Kim Kardashian became fashion icons, not just entertainers—thanks in large part to Wintour’s vision.
5. The Mind Behind The Modern MET
Though the event existed before her, Wintour turned the Met Gala into an international cultural moment.
Every look, guest list, and theme has her approval—and it continues to determine how we talk about fashion today.
What’s Next For Vogue
The news that Anna Wintour steps down is less of an ending and more of an evolution.
With a new HOEC to lead Vogue US, the brand is entering a new chapter—one rooted in evolution, not replacement.
Wintour now has the space and flexibility to amplify Vogue’s voice on a global scale.
Vogue now has an opportunity to reflect today’s fast-changing fashion, while still being guided by the same creative force that shaped its legacy.
This isn’t just succession planning—it’s strategic reinvention.
Now, Vogue has the potential to become more inclusive, more forward-thinking, and more influential than ever before, under Wintour’s expanded global vision.
So while one role ends, the story is far from over. In fact, the next act might just be the most exciting yet!
