“I have no plans to leave American Vogue now or in the foreseeable future.”
Despite recent headlines, Anna Wintour claims to not be leaving Vogue. Not only is Wintour now dismissing the reports, but S.I. Newhouse — the Condé Nast chairman who was said to be meeting with French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld recently — is following suit to quell the rumors.
Furthermore, Roitfeld’s daughter Julia Restoin-Roitfeld says that her mother would never take the helm of American Vogue because she “loves Paris too much” and couldn’t bear to leave; she also apparently dislikes New York.
Many are noting, however, that having Roitfeld as editor-in-chief at American Vogue could bring some much welcomed changes, such as increasing diversity and toning down the celebrity factor (notably regarding covers).
If a changeover does take place, it looks like it might be by choice; we dug up an item from PageSix (from November 18, 2008) which states that Wintour has been looking to retire and finds herself worn-out:
IS the empress of fashion ready to move on? Sources said Vogue editrix Anna Wintour – who also oversees Fashion Rocks, Teen Vogue and, until recently, Men’s Vogue – is mulling retirement. “Her contract is up soon,” an insider said. “She’s thinking of retiring. She feels she’s done it all and had enough. She has been putting out feelers to intimate friends recommending a possible replacement to S.I. Newhouse. She’s so tired out, she just let Men’s Vogue close instead of fighting for it.” Wintour, who has also nurtured the careers of countless designers, would be sorely missed. A rep said, “This is completely unfounded.”
Sources:
- http://www.observer.com/2008/media/anna-wintour-says-she-has-no-plans-leave-vogue-what-would-it-take-day-i-get-too-angry
- http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/12/julia_restoin-roitfeld_said_he.html
- http://jezebel.com/5101064/3-reasons-we-hope-the-wintourroitfeld-rumor-is-true?skyline=true&s=i
- http://www.nypost.com/seven/11182008/gossip/pagesix/restless_anna_139201.htm
