In a twist (sadly) right out of "A Devil Wears Prada" the internet is RIFE with rumors today that Carine Roitfeld will be replacing Anna Wintour at the helm of American "Vogue". If you follow fashion and fashion hierarchy this is the style power equivalent of a new president being elected to the most powerful country in the world. BIG NEWS. A French one no less. Michael Phleps may not care but everyone who knows their McQueen from their De La Renta does.
As lore has it (and I write this with utmost respect for what the woman has achieved-ed), first rumors of intended retirement happened, then Men's Vogue folded (complete shame if you ask me, I was starting to love it more than the woman's-ed) followed by the Fashion rocks cancellation (blame Whitney) and the Vogue Living debacle.
Her hair may have remained perfect, but no one can recover from that many blows fast, especially not in the forever faltering print magazine world. That alien cover of Keira Knightly I am sure did not help, as the magazine saw its numbers slipping and ended up stooping down to recommending gifts from Wal-Mart in this month's issue (I understand trying to reach the masses, but exactly WHAT KIND of masses are you trying to reach) and more.
Obviously it is time for a change.
Enter the Anti-Anna, Carine Roitfeld whose current branding describes her as "provocative but never vulgar" and who has some of the most amazing eyebrows this side of Brooke Shields, and a swingy, youthful bob to counter Anna's helmet of perfection. Not to mention, in her hands Keira Knightley looked ravishing as opposed to star trekky.
The change, as they say, is a-foot. As early as January 2009.
How do you feel about it?
God loves a cheerful giver.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH....
I love Anna and what she has done with American Vogue, though this last issue, the Wal-mart mess, that was awful.
we'll see if this definitely happens, and conde nast isn't just going to fire her, it'll be interesting to see where she goes next.
She is the holy grail of fashion... tough tough shoes to fill.
if anyone need's to be replaced it's Glenda over at Harper's. She's been trying to be an Anna for years.
Not only is Vogue an institution, Anna Wintour is one as well. If she leaves Vogue it will be like Tom Ford leaving Gucci. The company will falter, and the individual will continue along with their own empire.
I've seen countless articles recounting the decline of American vogue in recent years noting the more edgy approach taken by the other Vogues (including the all-black issue of Italian Vogue paying homage to black models for instance). anna wintour is tired. she might could move on by now.
Je t'aime Anna! Tragic! Tragic! Tragic!
agreed. god love her, anna wintour is past her prime.
but seriously, what a prime she's had! the woman needs some mad props for her reign of terror inducing fashion law legislation over we, the stylistically inept American masses. her command over culture is, and has been, so ubiquitous, so subtle, and so completely irresistible. in the 90s, at least.
she's totally been losing her edge as of late, or at least getting senile with her power-wielding. can anyone argue with that? a blog is a blog, anna darling, you can't change anything about the sloppiness of internet vernacular. the web is not a fashion house bending backwards to your neurotically perfect whim. the internet is bigger than you.
and carine/the utter coolness of france as perceived by mainstream america is bigger than you. its okay, though. nobody beat you! this whole thing is just very lion king. you're mufasa and carine is simba. circle of life, baby. time to retire.
perhaps trying too hard (or not hard enough?), american vogue is really missing the mark as of late. maybe anna WAS channeling some kind of new outer spacey-chic for the fall issue cover? but keira looks relatively the same (albeit stellar, yes) as ever, and that get-up i read as some kind of ensemble homage to velour, the spice girls, and camelot on broadway.
soooo.
to that i say, viva la france.
"when Roitfeld happened upon a black transvestite with an Afro, incredible legs, and an Amish-style chinstrap beard, they put him in a minidress and on the cover." (-ny mag)
ummmm. awesome?
viva la france and fab trannies all the way.
i love anna, but if i see another goddamned american vogue shoot of head-to-toe runway looks (that i can, no less, see for FREE on style.com) on raquel zimmerman or caroline trentini jumping in front of a grey background shot by klein or sims i'm going to slit my throat.
viva carine!!