Anna Wintour Steps Down as American Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief After 37 Years

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

NEW YORK — Anna Wintour, a towering figure in the global fashion industry, has announced she is stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue, a position she has held with unrivaled influence for 37 years.

Wintour, 75, revealed the transition during a staff meeting on Thursday, saying she will appoint a new head of editorial content for American Vogue. However, this change does not mean her role is ending — instead, she will focus on an expanded global position.

As global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast, Wintour will continue to oversee editorial direction across the group’s key brands, including Vanity Fair, GQ, and Wired, while maintaining her unmatched impact on the fashion world.

“In any creative field, it’s vital to keep growing,” Wintour told staff. “My greatest joy now is mentoring the next generation of editors as they bring fresh perspectives to the industry.”

According to The Business of Fashion, Wintour’s shift comes as her responsibilities have grown over recent years, managing not only American Vogue but also its eight global editions and other Condé Nast publications.

Roger Lynch, Condé Nast’s CEO, explained to the Wall Street Journal that Wintour has been essentially handling three top roles since 2020. “This decision allows her to dedicate more time to the people and projects that need her strategic input,” he noted.

While Wintour stepping back from day-to-day American Vogue duties might be seen as part of a long-term succession plan, her continued influence at Condé Nast suggests she remains central to its future.

Since taking over in 1988, after leading British Vogue, Wintour revolutionized American Vogue by blending celebrity culture and high fashion. Her first cover in November 1988 featured model Michaela Bercu in a Christian Lacroix jacket and $50 Guess jeans — breaking the traditional rules of what “high fashion” meant.

She later made celebrities and supermodels cultural icons, showcasing names such as Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Kim Kardashian, and many others on Vogue covers.

Wintour also redefined the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala, known worldwide as the Met Gala, elevating it to a global event on par with the Oscars, celebrated for its dazzling fashion statements.

Her powerful image was further solidified by Hollywood through The Devil Wears Prada film, with Meryl Streep playing a fictionalized version of Wintour, and through acclaimed documentaries like The September Issue.

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