Anna Wintour interview. Hostess of Vogue: unknown facts about Anna Wintour. "The Devil Wears Prada"

In the fall, there was a big embarrassment at Paris Fashion Week: the editor-in-chief of the American edition of Vogue magazine, an unquestioned authority, caused a scandal right during the show. This is exactly what the guests of the show might have thought: a lean woman with a perfectly styled bob haircut and large sunglasses Chanel loudly criticized the action on the catwalk, and then completely showed the middle finger to those present. Oh no, the troublemaker was not Anna Wintour, but the notorious French journalist Agnes Boulard, who tricked her way into the PFW shows. It’s just that at almost sixty years old, Anna Wintour, the great and terrible Atomic War, as she was nicknamed in the world of high fashion, has long turned into a brand, a household name, an object of endless admiration and hatred. We say Vogue - we mean Anna Wintour. Vogue became the only option for her life's path. When the ten-year-old daughter of the editor of the British newspaper The Evening Standard and social activist had to fill out a school application form, the item future profession made her think. My father came to the rescue: “Write that you want to become the editor of Vogue.” The girl began to look for herself early. Her famous bob appeared when Anna was fourteen. Having grown up, Anna plunged into the cycle of London bohemia, not missing a single party or a single nightclub opening. This was facilitated by an affair with society columnist Nigel Dempster. “She would have attended the opening of the postal envelope!” - recalled someone from her circle at that time. Now she advised her father on how to expand the audience of his newspaper at the expense of young people. She idolized her father and did not understand why he was nicknamed Cold Charles. Toughness, perseverance, self-confidence - these are the qualities that she inherited from him. She decided to start her career in fashion journalism from the very bottom: instead of going to college, she went to work at Harpers & Queen as an assistant in the fashion department. A couple of years later she was already a deputy editor. In 1976, Wintour moved overseas and became the fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar. In 1983, she became creative director of American Vogue magazine. There was one step and five long years left to the top. Finding herself at the most important fashion magazine, experiencing creative stagnation, Anna set to work with her characteristic enthusiasm. But that was not the case: while highly appreciating her creativity, management was not ready to part with editor-in-chief Grace Mirabella. And the ambitious Anna was sent to manage the Italian Vogue and House & Garden. From the latter, she shook off the dust of conservatism, diluting the boring interiors with photo shoots of show business stars and fashion shoots. In the end, she proved her worth: in 1988 she triumphantly returned to New York and took the chair of editor-in-chief of the flagship of world fashion. The first cover of her Vogue broke all stereotypes: the model in cheap jeans wore a luxurious Christian Lacroix top, embroidered precious stones. Perfectionism - main feature Wintour. She demands the same from her employees, and from the publication’s star characters, and in general from... everyone. Once on the Oprah Winfrey show, she recommended to the hostess... to lose weight! When Jennifer Lopez's star lit up, Wintour, with a categorical diagnosis of “too vulgar,” refused to put the future pop diva on the cover. They hate her. The most notable manifestation of this was the book and then the film The Devil Wears Prada. Former Vogue assistant Lauren Weisberger portrayed Anna Wintour as a rare bitch with almost nothing human in her. There was a person who even hatched plans to kill the hated Anna: a diary was found in the possession of a journalist for an online fashion portal, Peter Bronstein, in which he outlined plans to kill the “selfish freak”: “Do you want to know why I want to kill Anna Wintour? My motives? Yes, simply because I want it so much!” Does no one really love this “steel” woman? Only those whose true talent she was able to discern respond to her with love. For example, John Galliano. When the future creative director of Christian Dior fled London for Paris in the 90s, it was she who convinced the wealthy Portuguese socialite Sao Schulberger to provide a mansion to show her protégé’s collection. And Galliano literally revolutionized the fashion world with his show. Anna is loved most sincerely, of course, by her children - Charles and Catherine. The daughter decided to continue the family dynasty and writes a blog for the Daily Telegraph. Wintour lived with the father of her offspring for fifteen years. These years were not the happiest in her life. Renowned pediatrician David Shaffer had little in common with Mrs. Perfect. They remember how once on vacation Anna and David, sunbathing on the beach, did not utter a word for seven hours. The true love of the “Iron Lady” was Texas millionaire Shelby Brian. Their affair began while both were married. Anna was incredibly worried: an exemplary mother, she was afraid that her children would suffer from their parents’ divorce. Each publication in the tabloids was like a knife blow. But the children grew up, Anna and Shelby divorced. There was no need to waste your nerves on something not related to work. The curve of her professional authority, without changing its trajectory, tended upward. It was through her efforts that the entire fashion press, pouring the strongest coffee into themselves, hurried to the first show of Fashion Week at 8:45: at one time, Wintour considered that the event was fairly extended and the shows needed to be condensed, reducing the number of days. You can learn how Vogue really works under Wintour's leadership in the September Issue documentary. And how Sienna Miller’s head was put on the cover from another photo is already legendary! And now, like a bolt from the blue: they say that soon the “glamorous insect” will be replaced by the editor-in-chief of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld, or even her Russian colleague Alena Doletskaya. Of course, such a post and the accompanying annual salary of $2 million is a tempting prospect. But even if Atomic Anna leaves her post, she is unlikely to retire: they say Barack Obama is seriously considering appointing her US Ambassador to France...

The only thing that could be more exciting than an unexpected meeting with someone is an appointed meeting, or rather, an interview!

Having already introduced everyone who wants a career in the fashion world to the editor-in-chief of the “Fashion Bible” - American Vogue - to his potential employees, we continue the topic by publishing stories of interviews with Anna Wintour of ten “test subjects”. These lucky ones attended a personal meeting with the editor-in-chief of the publication in different years, starting back in 1989.

Number one: the girl who spent five thousand dollars preparing for a meeting with Anna Vinur

From the call informing me about the scheduled interview to the meeting with Anna Wintour, I had only one evening. Previous work experience in fashion industry I didn't, so the only designer label in my wardrobe was J.Crew. So, after a day of work on the eve of the interview, I recovered at Barneys - it was the only store in the area that was open until eight in the evening, and next to it - nail salon, on the sign which indicated the closing time - nine zero-zero. This was my choice.

I bought a Proenza Shouler silk dress, Prada shoes, and a Celine belt, spending a total of two thousand dollars. My last purchase was a Marc Jacobs bag for over three thousand dollars. However, it was worth it.

Verdict: Got the job.

Number two: the girl who was asked not to cry at work

I decided not to spend a fortune on a fancy interview kit and used the contents of a vintage store. I went to the meeting in an apricot dress with gold buttons and open-toed shoes, took a Prada bag from a friend and David Yurman jewelry from a designer friend.

Before the interview, I was asked if I have a habit of shedding tears at work, since Anna Vinutr hates listening to sobs coming from the office bathroom. During the meeting itself, Anna Vinutr drew attention to my address indicated in my resume: so you live in Brooklyn? Apparently, this did not inspire her. In addition, she asked what my parents do. She also didn’t like my answer that they were teachers. Verdict: candidacy rejected.

What will Anna Wintour say - “Yes” or “No”?

Number three: the girl who showed up for interviews three times

My first interview with Anna Wintour took place in 1989 - then I chose a Betsey Johnson jacket with a skirt, black tight Donna Karan tights and creepy hoof shoes. Anna Wintour must have shuddered internally.

When I interviewed with her for the second time, I acted smarter: I wore a simple black Calvin Klein dress. And before my third interview with her (looks like I'm a masochist!) I went with a friend to Bergdorf to put together a full-fledged fashion set. Verdict: I received offers for three different positions.

Number four: the girl in Dr. Martens

That day, I had no idea that I would be interviewing Anna Wintour, but even if I had known, I would hardly have changed my choice. All this reverence for Vogue is alien to me. Moreover, it was just an interview for an assistant position, not a fashion editor, so I was simply wearing one of my favorite outfits: a dark gray Anna Sui pleated skirt, a black jumper, black tights and Dr boots. Martens. It was 1993 - so why not? Verdict: Got the job.

Number five: man

I received a message about a meeting with Anna Wintour scheduled for Monday by e-mail on Thursday. As soon as I hung up the phone, I immediately began to prepare: I began leafing through the latest newspapers and magazines and made an appointment for a haircut. For the meeting I wore a simple light gray Tom Brown suit, a white shirt with the top button left undone, and dark brown shiny patent leather boots.

Before starting a conversation about the open position, Anna Wintour and I discussed the news, tennis (I was seriously interested in it). I admit, it was scary. She acted like a super professional!
Verdict: Got the job.

Number six: the girl who bought thousand dollar shoes

The call about the meeting took place on Monday evening. It was about five o'clock. I was asked a question: “Can you meet Anna tomorrow at two?” I agreed, hung up and rushed to the closet.

Then I called a stylist friend who reassured me by saying, “Don’t worry, she’s a professional, she interviews every day. Don’t think you’re the only one. Whatever you wear is a thing of the past in her eyes anyway.” season".

I had time to go to Soho to buy shoes. I bought Proenza Shouler open-toe shoes there for a thousand dollars and ran home. For interviews, I wore 3.1 Philip Lim high-waisted silk trousers, a blouse, borrowed a black Celine bag from a stylist friend, and topped it off with an Apart coat. The rest was simpler: almost zero makeup, straight hair, a wedding ring and no perfume! Verdict: Got the job.

Number seven: girl with mohawk

My interview with Anna Wintour was almost ten years ago. It was a vacancy in the art department, I decided to stand out and came with a mohawk. She received a slight smirk from Anna Wintour. Verdict: Got the job.

Number eight: the girl who was put on a plane

This was my ninth and final interview at Vogue. For the meeting, I borrowed a green Helmut Lang dress from a friend, which I wore with black thick tights. Our interview lasted more than five minutes, after which I was immediately sent to work in Poland. Verdict: Got the job.

Number nine: the girl who had no money

The HR specialist called me and made an appointment. I had exactly one day to prepare. As a result, I interviewed with specialists Virginia, Jessica and Meredith. The next day, HR called back and invited me to a meeting with Anna Wintour herself. There was one more day left. But I've never been particularly fashion-conscious, and besides, I was just out of college. In general, I simply did not have the money to buy a worthy Vogue set. So I decided to rent things.

She wore a gold J.Crew skirt, a white button-down shirt, a Pobert Rodriguez blazer over top, and black Zara shoes. I spent about three hours styling it, resulting in a high ponytail.

Verdict: Got the job.

Number ten: the girl who asked Anna Wintour to wait

I received an invitation to interview with Anna Wintour during my last week of college. I was sure it was just a prank, so I asked if employers could wait until I graduated.

Immediately after graduation, I began preparing for an interview. I came to the meeting in a Balenciaga crepe dress from the latest collection (I spent everything I had saved up over the years of study), a white dress shirt with a necklace under the collar, and Prada shoes.

Verdict: Got the job.

What would you do?

Photo: GettyImages/Fotobank