Dame Anna Wintour ends record-breaking run at US Vogue but stays on in global leadership role

Dame Anna Wintour is stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years, marking the end of an era at the top of one of fashion’s most influential publications.

The 75-year-old British-born fashion icon made the announcement to Vogue staff on Thursday, saying she wanted to make space for “the next generation of impassioned editors to storm the field with their own ideas.” While relinquishing her historic role, Wintour will continue in her powerful positions as global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer at Condé Nast, the magazine’s parent company.

In an internal note shared by Condé Nast, Dame Anna revealed that Vogue would be introducing a new role — head of editorial content — for the American edition, signalling a shift in leadership structure while maintaining continuity at the helm.

“It goes without saying,” she told staff, “that I plan to remain Vogue’s tennis and theatre editor in perpetuity.”

Wintour, who was born and raised in London, previously edited British Vogue before taking the reins at its American counterpart in 1988. Over the decades, she reshaped Vogue’s voice and visual identity, making it a beacon of global fashion authority. Her editorial vision championed not only supermodels and haute couture but also emerging designers, celebrity culture, and social trends.

Wintour earned a reputation for her sharp instincts and unshakeable style. Her blunt bob, oversized sunglasses and steely composure became iconic in the fashion world — as did her influence over designers, photographers, and public figures. In 2017, Queen Elizabeth II named her a Dame for services to fashion and journalism. Earlier this year, King Charles elevated her further by naming her a Companion of Honour.

Despite stepping back from her US Vogue role, Dame Anna’s grip on the fashion industry remains firm. She has led the annual Met Gala — one of the most high-profile events in the cultural calendar — since 1995, shaping it into a global spectacle that fuses art, fashion and celebrity.

Wintour’s long tenure has also inspired pop culture. She is widely believed to be the model for the character Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, the icy magazine editor made famous by Meryl Streep in the film adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s novel. Weisberger worked as Wintour’s assistant in the early 2000s.

Last December, Wintour revealed in a BBC interview that her trademark sunglasses were not just for show. “They help me see — and help me not see,” she quipped, calling them a kind of “prop.”

Though she has faced criticism over the years for her demanding leadership style and lack of diversity at Vogue, Wintour has remained unapologetic, insisting on excellence and pushing the publication through the digital age with enduring relevance.

Even King Charles recently asked if she had any plans to retire. Her answer, she said, was a “firm no.”

Her decision to pass the baton at Vogue US may be her most significant editorial transition yet, but Wintour’s legacy in the fashion world is far from finished. She continues to influence what the world wears — and how it thinks about style — from her front-row seat at the top of Condé Nast.