
Anna Wintour’s Successor: Who Will Shape Vogue’s Next Chapter?
Why Anna Wintour’s Departure Matters
After 37 game‑changing years, Dame Anna Wintour is relinquishing her day‑to‑day role as American Vogue’s editor‑in‑chief, though she will stay on as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer. The shift formally ends a legendary era that began with her 1988 jeans‑and‑Lacroix cover and saw Vogue evolve from glossy print bible to multiplatform cultural barometer.

A Legacy Woven Into Pop Culture
- Democratising fashion: By pairing couture with denim and putting Madonna on her first cover, Wintour erased strict lines between runway and street.
- Celebrity‑driven covers: Long before “influencer” was a job title, she understood the click‑and‑newsstand power of famous faces.
- Championing new talent: Designers like Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen found early oxygen in Vogue’s pages.
- Philanthropy & the Met Gala: Under Wintour, the Costume Institute Gala morphed into fashion’s Super Bowl and raised over $250 million for the museum.
- Digital pivot: From podcasts to TikTok explainers, Vogue’s audience now skews majority online—critical as print ad pages keep sliding.
The Challenges Her Successor Must Tackle
- Monetising digital reach without sacrificing editorial authority.
- Balancing celebrity appetite with fashion craftsmanship.
- Sustainability & ethics: Readers want supply‑chain transparency, not just beautiful editorials.
- Diversity & inclusion: Post‑2020, Vogue is scrutinised for the voices it elevates—and those it overlooks.
- AI & immersive media: Gen‑Z expects virtual styling, metaverse shows, and personalised shopping built into storytelling.

Who’s on the Shortlist?
Contender | Current Role | Why They Fit | Watch‑outs |
---|---|---|---|
Chioma Nnadi | Head of Editorial Content, British Vogue | Wintour protégé; strong digital record; music & culture savvy | London‑based—will she relocate? |
Eva Chen | Director of Fashion Partnerships, Instagram | Deep social‑commerce chops; Met Gala fixture | Zero print experience; external hire hurdles |
Chloe Malle | Editor, Vogue.com & Podcast Host | Vogue lineage, newsroom credibility, podcast success | Lower public profile; will advertisers rally? |
Amy Astley | EIC, Architectural Digest | Founded Teen Vogue; Condé Nast insider; cross‑title clout | May prefer design world stability |
Nicole Phelps | Director, Vogue Runway & Business | Industry authority; runway omnipresence; respected by designers | Limited consumer‑facing fame; less celeb experience |
Dark‑horse picks include Lauren Santo Domingo (Moda Operandi), Rickie de Sole (Nordstrom), and even Wintour’s daughter Bee Carrozzini—though insiders doubt Condé Nast wants a nepotism headline.
What Vogue Looks Like Post‑Wintour
- Job title shift: The incoming “Head of Editorial Content, US” will report to Wintour rather than replace her outright, signalling a more collaborative, less monarchical structure.
- Events as content engines: Expect Vogue World, Live Shopping, and Met Gala streams to grow into year‑round franchises.
- AI‑powered personalisation: Condé Nast’s data‑science teams are already testing story layouts tailored to each reader.
- Conscience‑driven fashion: From resale partnerships to carbon‑labelled shoots, sustainability is poised to headline every issue.

Final Stitch
Anna Wintour’s sunglasses may still preside over Condé Nast, but a new creative mind will soon decide whose stories, bodies, and ambitions make the cover. Whoever dons the most coveted bob in media must juggle heritage with TikTok speed—and prove that Vogue can still set, not follow, the cultural dress code.
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