Dame Anna Wintour, CH DBE, commonly known as Anna Wintour, is a prominent British-American media executive who has served as the prestigious Editor-in-Chief of Vogue magazine since 1988.
In addition to her role at Vogue, she took on the role of Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast in 2020.
This high-profile position gives her oversight of all Condé Nast publications worldwide. In addition to these responsibilities, she is also the company’s artistic director.
Anna Wintour is recognized worldwide for her distinctive style and significant influence in the fashion industry.
File
- Full name: Dame Anna Wintour
- Stage name: Anna Wintour
- Date of birth: November 3, 1949
- Age: 74 years old.
- Place of birth: London, United Kingdom
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Professional Editor
- Height: 1.7m
- Parents: Charles Wintour, Eleanor Trego Baker
- Siblings: Patrick Wintour, James Wintour, Nora Wintour and Gerald Wintour
- Spouse: Shelby Bryan (married 2004–2020), David Shaffer (married 1984–1999)
- Children: Bee Shaffer, Charles Shaffer
- Relationship: None
- Net worth: $50 million
Early life
Anna Wintour was born into a well-connected family in Hampstead, London. Her father, Charles Wintour, was editor of the Evening Standard, while her mother, Eleanor Trego Baker, was an American with connections to Harvard Law School.
Although her parents divorced in 1979, Wintour maintained a close relationship with her grandmother, Anna Baker.
Additionally, Audrey Slaughter played an important role in her life as a stepmother and an influential figure in the magazine industry.
Anna Wintour grew up in a family of four siblings, including her late brother Gerald, who tragically passed away in a car accident when they were young.
One of her younger brothers, Patrick, shares her passion for journalism and currently works as diplomatic editor at The Guardian.
Her other siblings, James and Nora, have pursued careers in London local government and international NGOs, reflecting the family’s diverse talents and interests.
Education
While studying at North London Collegiate School, Anna Wintour expressed her rebellious spirit by constantly challenging the school’s dress code, often by cutting the hem of her skirts short. At the age of 14, she made the bold decision to cut her hair into a fashionable bob.
Wintour’s passion for fashion blossomed while watching Cathy McGowan on Ready Steady Go! and reading Seventeen magazine that her grandmother sent her from the United States.
These early influences helped shape Wintour into the iconic figure in the fashion industry she is today.
Looking back on her childhood in London in the 1960s, she vividly recalls the vibrant fashion scene that was impossible to ignore.
She recalls how her father, who worked in publishing, often sought her opinion on strategies to attract more young readers.
It was an era of innovation and creativity, and she felt privileged to witness firsthand the evolution of fashion and youth culture.
Career
Anna Wintour’s illustrious career in fashion journalism spans decades, beginning with her early days in London in the 1970s, where she worked for publications such as Harper’s & Queen.
The experience took her to New York City in the late 1970s, where she worked for prestigious magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and New York Magazine.
Wintour’s editorial leadership skills shone through when she became editor of British Vogue in the mid-1980s before returning to the United States in 1987 to transform House & Garden into HG. This bold and controversial move demonstrated her innovative approach to magazine publishing.
Anna Wintour’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. From her early days in the fashion industry to her rise to cultural icon status, she has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion.
As global chief content officer at Condé Nast and influential editor-in-chief of Vogue, Wintour’s editorial decisions have significantly shaped the industry.
However, her focus on high fashion and promotion of fur has not been without criticism, with some arguing that her vision of beauty is too elitist and unattainable.
Despite this, Wintour’s ambition and influence continue to make her a force in the ever-changing world of fashion.
Awards and nominations
- Magazine Editors Hall of Fame: Honored by the American Society of Magazine Editors in 2008 for notable achievements and leadership in the industry [ASME Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame].
- Order of the British Empire: Queen Elizabeth II awarded Anna Wintour an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2008 and made her a Dame Commander (DBE) in 2017 for her services to fashion and journalism. [Wikipedia Anna Wintour].
- British Fashion Awards: In 2014, the British Fashion Council honored her with the Outstanding Achievement Award, recognizing her significant contributions to the global fashion scene. [British Fashion Council Anna Wintour Award].
Social media
- Instagram name: @wintourworld
- Facebook Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Personal life
During her formative years, Wintour explored romantic relationships with older men and had multiple affairs.
At the age of 15, she began a brief relationship with famous novelist Piers Paul Read, who was nine years her senior.
As she entered her late teens, Wintour’s love life took another turn when she found herself in a relationship with editorial writer Nigel Dempster.
The relationship developed into a prominent phenomenon in the vibrant social scene of London’s clubs.
In 1984, Anna Wintour married child psychiatrist David Shaffer and had two children: Charles, born in 1985, and Katherine, born in 1987. Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce in 1999.
Charles graduated from Oxford University and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Meanwhile, Katherine pursued a writing career, writing occasionally for The Daily Telegraph in 2006 before graduating from Columbia University in 2009.
Despite her mother’s influence in the fashion industry, Katherine has made it clear that she has no intention of following in her mother’s footsteps.
In 2018, Katherine married Italian filmmaker Francesco Carrozzini, son of Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief of Vogue Italia.
Newspapers and gossip columns widely reported that Anna Wintour’s affair with investor Shelby Bryan was the reason her marriage to David Shaffer fell apart.
Despite the rumors, Wintour has chosen not to respond to these speculations. As quoted in the Observer, a former colleague mentioned that Bryan had a positive impact on Wintour, saying that he “soothe her”, and she was seen smiling more.
Wintour currently calls Greenwich Village in New York City her home.
Net worth
Anna Wintour, an influential American magazine editor and renowned fashion expert, has amassed a considerable net worth of $50 million over the course of her successful career.
Her creative vision and keen eye for trends have cemented her status as a true icon in the industry, making her one of the most respected figures in the fashion industry.
