The Real Anna Wintour wears herself

Decisiveness – Anna Wintour’s secret weapon made not so secret in “The September Issue”. This documentary follows the way in which the fall number is put together, the moment in which fashion reinvents itself.

Just after watching it I realized the Devil mad about Prada wasn’t such a devil after all. The woman interpreted by Meryl Streep and inspired by Anna Wintour seemed to eat innocent children at lunch and walk over dead bodies to get what she wanted.

The real Anna Wintour isn’t a monster. She isn’t Hitler’s female counterpart, only better dressed and better-looking, she is fashion’s Napoleon Bonaparte.

A leader, a talent scout, an organizer, a diplomat, a spokesperson, a critic, the most powerful woman in fashion, Anna Wintour can walk up to Oscar de la Renta and tell him what (creations) should go on his catwalk or not. She’s the woman Thakoon ows his fame to, the woman that makes Stefano Pilati (YSL’s Head Designer) nervous.

Vogue is Anna. Anna is Vogue. She knows what the readers want, how to sell, how to impress and to how to keep Vogue the most knowledgeable, glamorous fashion magazine around.

“They think fashion is a joke, they mock it, find it amusing” – this is what other people, including Anna’s family, feel about her work.

How lonely is the life of the Ice Woman?

Pretty lonely. Her daughter tries to stay away from her mother’s work, which can be pretty hard, considering Wintour is a classic workaholic. Demanding, intimidatingly decisive, perfectionist, always marching forward, Anna Wintour seems to have no regrets. Nor the time to reminisce.

Fashion is always looking forward

For Anna, there is always the next BIG THING. She was the first editor to bring celebrities on the cover of a magazine and the first woman at Vogue to promote outfits made from designer clothes and retail items.

“Nuclear Wintour” always has the final word. But the first ones come from Grace Coddington, Creative Director, the former model turned into amazing stylist, the one who visualizes the themes and puts together the looks. Anna’s right hand is “a genius. The one able to see where fashion is going. Her work is remarkable”. Coming from her, the words must be true. Nonetheless, “The September Issue” shows Grace and Anna having differences and the way they overcome them.

It may seem that Wintour is The Manager and Coddington, The Artist. Since Wintour has revolutionised the fashion world with such photo shoots and stories, I’d say there are still blurred lines…

Watching Anna Wintour at work made me realize you have to believe in your vision, in your take on things, to the point where you defend them disregarding friendships and feelings. It all comes to bringing the right arguments (Grace) or just simply stating your beliefs (Anna).

Indeed, to make a decision on the spot is challenging and it requires a whole deal of experience, knowledge, reputation, assertiveness.. If you don’t have it you still have to fight for it, for your voice.

But…it’s worse speaking without trusting your instincts, bowing in front of someone not because they are right but because they can’t be wrong. These are two whole different things.