How did Anna Wintour influence celebrity fashion through Vogue covers? A look at her 1988 debut and beyond

Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, announced on Thursday, June 26, 2025, that she is stepping down from her position but will, however, transition to the roles of Global Chief Content Officer at Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director of Vogue.

Wintour has been a part of Vogue for over thirty years and has transformed Vogue US since taking the helm in 1988. She revolutionized celebrity fashion through Vogue covers in several impactful ways, including frequently featuring Hollywood stars on the cover, which increased celebrity influence in fashion; showcasing designers dressing celebrities before red-carpet events; and curating iconic fashion shoots that blended celebrity images with high-fashion storytelling.

More about Anna Wintour's influence in fashion

Anna Wintour redefined celebrity fashion, beginning with her bold cover portraits for Vogue. Her first cover in 1988 featured an Israeli model, Michaela Bercu, in a Christian Lacroix jacket and jeans. Following this, Wintour started featuring celebrities like Madonna, Nicole Kidman, and Angelina Jolie on the covers. This approach made the Vogue cover more relatable and commercially powerful.

Anna also played a significant role in red carpet events, including the Met Gala, where she orchestrates every detail, from food and seating arrangements to dress code. It was Wintour who promoted risk-taking and individualism at the red carpet, and also aligned stars with fashion brands.

Wintour also played a significant role in shaping the future of fashion by supporting emerging designers as they advanced in their careers. As per USA Today, Wintour supported the British designer, John Galliano, by getting him financial backing early in his career. He then went on to become the head designer at Christian Dior.

She also helped create opportunities for upcoming designers. In 2003, Wintour and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) started the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to help new designers financially and provide them with mentorship.

Wintour's influence has been so significant that she has been mentioned by name or inspired lyrics in songs by well-known artists like Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj. For example, in Jay-Z’s 2009 hit "Empire State of Mind," he alludes to Wintour's iconic status through wordplay involving "in-style" and "in the winter."

Additionally, Nicki Minaj has referenced Anna in two of her tracks, including "Come on a Cone" and "Muny." She has also appeared in various films and documentaries related to fashion, such as the 2009 documentary "The September Issue" and the 2016 documentary "The First Monday in May."

The fictional film The Devil Wears Prada is widely believed to be inspired by Anna Wintour, although she is never named directly. The film is based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, who formerly worked as Wintour’s assistant at Vogue.

While Anna will be stepping down from her role at Vogue, the company has established a new position, Head of Editorial Content, and is currently searching for a candidate to fill it.

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