Fashion icon Dame Anna Wintour has stepped down as the editor of Vogue after nearly 40 years in the role, according to reports from U.S. media.
The 75-year-old British-born Wintour, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global fashion industry, is credited with transforming Vogue into a dominant force capable of shaping trends and elevating designers.
Wintour announced her departure as editor-in-chief at a staff meeting on Thursday. While she will relinquish her top position at Vogue, she will remain with the publication as global chief content officer for parent company Conde Nast and continue as editorial director of Vogue.
A search for her successor is now underway.
Wintour, who was raised in the UK by a British father and an American mother, became editor of Vogue in 1988. Over the years, she has become a defining figure in fashion and magazine journalism, known for her signature bob haircut and sunglasses. Her choice of magazine covers was considered an authoritative guide during Vogue’s prime, and she gained a reputation for controlling content, sometimes making drastic changes without consultation.
Wintour is widely believed to have been the inspiration for the character portrayed by Meryl Streep in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, where a tyrannical magazine editor is central to the plot.
In 2017, Wintour was made a Dame by the British government. Earlier this year, she was appointed a companion of honour, a prestigious title given to those with significant contributions to their fields. During the award ceremony in London, she removed her signature sunglasses to receive the honour and mentioned to King Charles III that she had no plans of retiring anytime soon.
