Elegant Exodus: Anna Wintour Bids Farewell to Vogue After 37 Years of Fashion Dominion

Luxe magazine Switzerland
Jun 29
2 min read

Updated: Jun 30

For 37 pioneering years, Anna Wintour has been synonymous with American Vogue, transforming its pages, its voice and an entire industry.

On June 26, 2025, the iconic editor‑in‑chief quietly announced her decision to step aside from the helm of the magazine she redefined but not from influence. Wintour, now 75, will remain Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and editorial director across all Vogue titles.

Installed in 1988, Wintour inherited a Vogue losing ground to Elle. Her debut cover a model in jeans and a Christian Lacroix sweater signalled her audacious blend of high and street fashion, redefining cover models and shaking up tradition.

Over time, she pivoted the brand toward celebrity-driven issues, embracing Madonna, Michelle Obama, and Beyoncé, marrying fashion journalism with global pop culture . She also debuted the Met Gala, propelling it into one of the world’s most elite and lucrative cultural nights, raising over US$250 million for the Costume Institute.

Yet, Wintour’s reign was not without controversy. Rebranded as “Nuclear Wintour,” her famously exacting style and steadfast commitment to fur invited pushback from staff and activists alike . In recent years, efforts toward diversity and digital evolution provoked both applause and criticism, particularly among those calling from within for broader inclusion’. Regardless, her influence remains indelible.

Now, as Vogue prepares for its next chapter, the search for a new head of editorial content is underway. That individual who will report directly to Wintour must navigate a media landscape vastly different from the one she entered in 1988.

Despite her departure from daily duties, Wintour has vowed her journey continues, committing to mentor rising editors and reinforcing Vogue’s global direction and major events .