The “devil” takes an unusual form in Anna Wintour. Short bob, floral print, and those god-awful Chanel circular sunglasses in place of horns. Every fashion baddie loves Vogue, that much we can agree on (right?) So why do we hate the woman who’s been behind the number one fashion magazine since 1988?
It is a well-spoken fact that the world enjoys villainizing successful women, I myself can take the blame for doing so at one point or another. Why does a woman have to be successful and be everyone’s friend? No, seriously? While she had connections in the industry, Wintour worked her way from the bottom, getting her journalism break at Oz magazine, and truly putting the effort in to turn Vogue around and into the cult-followed media it is today. Wintour is highly recognized as being one of, if not, the reason behind the surplus of celebrities on the cover of Vogue. Where at a time when supermodels still overtook the industry, this approach was shocking and allowed for more versatility in the representation we see on magazine covers.
Soon after becoming EIC and completely changing the publication, Wintour became the almost surreal-like character we know today. She is powerful and she knows it. However, around 2006 when the staple, The Devil Wears Prada was released, which it is heavily conceived that Meryl Streep’s character is based on Wintour, she began to receive a lot of hate. This felt like the first time a woman in her position was well-known outside the industry, she has become a celebrity of sorts.
We can appreciate Wintour’s work but not the efforts she puts into them. We love Miranda but not Anna. She’s been described as cold, aloof, and a bitch. I beg to bring up the question of if she was a white male politician would she receive the same response or would she be adored and considered commanding and impressive? Or is this not even a gender issue, but rather a discussion of the mockery of fashion as a profession?
Fashion is entirely overlooked as a competent industry and consistently not taken seriously. I don’t think I have to say we are clearly not performing life-saving medicine in fashion, but it is one of the most influential parts of life. Fashion has the power to change a lot and whether you like it or not, Anna Wintour is leading the majority of that change.
I am not here to defend Wintour entirely either, I do not believe she is an Angel, and I don’t want to talk about the good without addressing the bad. I can certainly agree with her being deserving of all the backlash for in the past openly supporting racism, fatphobia, and transphobia within the fashion industry, there is absolutely no excuse for that. Yet, she is more often than not, criticized for her demeanor and not her previous actions.
On the surface level of conversation, the first topic within society is always a stab at her persona and not the controversy. I find it so interesting that people choose to focus on hating towards the non factual components of her. As viewers of Wintour’s life through a skewed lens, it is impossible to confirm or deny whether she is “nice”. The same way we can’t confirm if Ariana Grande is a “diva”. What does this have to do with anything? So what! She refuses to take pictures with fans. Wintour is not a famous singer or actress or model, but rather a leading business professional that at this point is indispensable for the industry. I find value in a decisive woman who knows herself and doesn’t change the public personality that is Anna Wintour to make herself easier to swallow. At the end of the day, it is about her legacy and award winning career.
I for one want to look up to more powerful women. Women like the devil (wears Prada).
Words by Elisabeth Edwards
Graphic by Oisin Carolan