In a move that has sent shockwaves through the fashion industry, Anna Wintour, the iconic and formidable editor-in-chief of American Vogue, has announced she is stepping down from her role after a historic 37-year tenure. The 75-year-old tastemaker, who has shaped the worlds of fashion, culture, and media for decades, will transition from the day-to-day running of the magazine.
While she is vacating the top editorial position at the U.S. publication, Wintour is not entirely severing ties with the publishing empire. She will continue in her powerful positions as Condé Nast's global chief content officer and the global editorial director of Vogue, maintaining her significant influence across the company's vast portfolio of publications.
The announcement came on Thursday, with Condé Nast revealing it is searching for a new "head of editorial content" for American Vogue. This change is part of a broader global strategy that the company has been implementing, which includes a similar leadership structure for its other international editions.
For nearly four decades, Wintour's sharp eye and exacting standards have been synonymous with Vogue. Her signature bob haircut and ever-present sunglasses have made her an instantly recognizable and often enigmatic figure in the front rows of fashion shows worldwide. Since taking the helm in 1988, she has been credited with transforming Vogue into a global powerhouse, championing new designers, and cementing the celebrity cover as a magazine staple.
Her influence extends far beyond the pages of Vogue. As the chair of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute gala, famously known as the Met Gala, she has turned the annual event into a spectacular global phenomenon. The most recent gala, held in May 2025, celebrated the theme "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," with Wintour overseeing an event that brought together a host of luminaries from fashion, film, and music.
Throughout her career, Wintour has been both revered and, at times, a subject of critique, with her demanding leadership style famously providing the inspiration for the best-selling novel and subsequent hit film, "The Devil Wears Prada."
As the fashion world processes this seismic shift, all eyes will be on who is chosen to fill the coveted role at American Vogue and how the publication will evolve in a new era. Wintour's departure from the editor-in-chief position marks the end of a chapter, but her enduring presence as a global content leader ensures that her influence on the industry will continue for the foreseeable future. A successor for the top Vogue job has not yet been named.
