History of Anna Wintour in Timeline
Anna Wintour is a highly influential British-American media executive, renowned as the editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988. She holds further leadership positions as global chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue, overseeing the company's publications worldwide. Instantly recognizable by her signature bob and sunglasses, Wintour is considered the most powerful woman in publishing. She's a significant figure in fashion, notably as the lead chairperson of the Met Gala since the 1990s. While lauded for her ability to spot emerging trends, she has also faced criticism regarding her perceived demanding personality.
1940: Parents' Marriage
In 1940, Anna Wintour's parents, Charles Wintour and Eleanor "Nonie" Trego Baker, were married.
1959: Father Becomes Editor of Evening Standard
In 1959, Charles Wintour, Anna's father, became the Editor of the London-based Evening Standard, influencing her early exposure to the world of media and journalism.
1970: Editorial Assistant at Harper's & Queen
In 1970, Anna Wintour was hired as one of the first editorial assistants at the newly merged Harper's & Queen, marking the beginning of her career in fashion journalism.
1975: Junior Fashion Editor at Harper's Bazaar
In 1975, Anna Wintour became a junior fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar in New York City.
1978: Viva Magazine Closure
In late 1978, the unprofitable Viva magazine, where Wintour was a fashion editor, was shut down by Guccione.
1979: Parents' Divorce
In 1979, Anna Wintour's parents divorced, ending their marriage.
1980: Fashion Editor for Savvy
In 1980, Anna Wintour returned to work, succeeding Elsa Klensch as fashion editor for Savvy, a new women's magazine.
1983: Creative Director at Vogue
In 1983, Anna Wintour accepted a position at Vogue, becoming the magazine's first creative director.
1984: Marriage to David Shaffer
In 1984, Anna Wintour married child psychiatrist David Shaffer, an acquaintance from London.
1985: Birth of Son Charles
In 1985, Anna Wintour and David Shaffer had a son named Charles.
1985: Editor of British Vogue
In 1985, Anna Wintour became the Editor of British Vogue, marking an early milestone in her editorial career.
1987: Birth of Daughter Katherine
In 1987, Anna Wintour and David Shaffer had a daughter named Katherine.
1987: Takes Over House & Garden
In 1987, Anna Wintour returned to New York City to take over House & Garden, implementing radical changes to staff and look.
1987: Leaves British Vogue
In 1987, after two years at British Vogue, Wintour left the publication.
November 1988: First Vogue Issue as Editor-in-Chief
In November 1988, Anna Wintour's first issue as editor-in-chief of U.S. Vogue was released, featuring a cover that broke from tradition by showing a model in jeans and a T-shirt.
1988: Editor-in-Chief of Vogue
In 1988, Anna Wintour became the editor-in-chief of Vogue, marking a significant career milestone.
June 1989: Vogue Cover with Estelle Lefebure
The June 1989 cover of Vogue featured model Estelle Lefebure with wet hair, a bathrobe, and no apparent makeup, showcasing Wintour's innovative approach.
1990: Fundraising for AIDS Charities
Since 1990, Anna Wintour has raised over $10 million for AIDS charities by organizing various high-profile benefits.
1995: Death of Mother Eleanor "Nonie" Trego Baker
In 1995, Anna Wintour's mother, Eleanor "Nonie" Trego Baker, passed away.
1999: Divorce from David Shaffer
In 1999, Anna Wintour and David Shaffer divorced.
1999: Death of Father Charles Wintour
In 1999, Anna Wintour's father, Charles Wintour, passed away.
2000: Supported Hillary Clinton's Senate Run
In 2000, Anna Wintour supported Hillary Clinton's Senate run.
2000: Relationship with Bryan Softening Personality
In the 2000, Anna Wintour's relationship with Bryan was credited with softening her personality at work.
2002: Complaint about affair rumors
In 2002, Anna Wintour complained about allegations of getting her job through an affair with Si Newhouse when accepting a media award.
2002: Braunstein Planned to Kill Wintour
In 2002, Peter Braunstein allegedly planned to kill Anna Wintour because of perceived slights, after receiving only one ticket to the Vogue Fashion Awards.
2003: The Devil Wears Prada Publication
In 2003, Lauren Weisberger published "The Devil Wears Prada", a roman à clef believed to be based on Anna Wintour.
September 2004: Largest Issue of Monthly Magazine
The September 2004 issue of Vogue was the largest issue of a monthly magazine ever published at that time, with 832 pages.
2004: Supported John Kerry's Presidential Campaign
In 2004, Anna Wintour supported John Kerry's presidential campaign.
2004: Edna Mode's Hairstyle in The Incredibles
In 2004, Edna Mode's similar hairstyle in The Incredibles was noted as borrowing some aspects of Anna Wintour.
2004: Court Ruling for Unpaid Workers' Compensation
In 2004, a court ruled that Anna Wintour and David Shaffer were to pay $104,403, and Wintour herself an additional $32,639, to settle a lawsuit brought against them by the New York State Workers' Compensation Board.
October 2005: Attacked with Tofu Pie in Paris
In October 2005, Anna Wintour was hit with a tofu pie while waiting to get into the Chloé show in Paris.
2005: Criticism by National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance
In 2005, Anna Wintour faced heavy criticism from the New York chapter of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance after Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley said on The Oprah Winfrey Show that Wintour demanded he lose weight.
2005: Reported Salary and Perks
In 2005, Anna Wintour's salary was reported to be $2 million a year, in addition to perks such as a chauffeured Mercedes-Benz, a $200,000 shopping allowance, and the Coco Chanel Suite at the Hotel Ritz Paris.
2005: Johnny Depp based Willy Wonka on Wintour
In 2005, Johnny Depp said he partially based the demeanour of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Anna Wintour.
2005: Publication of Front Row: The Cool Life and Hot Times of Vogue's Editor in Chief
In 2005, Oppenheimer's "Front Row: The Cool Life and Hot Times of Vogue's Editor in Chief" was published, painting a portrait of Anna Wintour. Wintour declined interview requests and discouraged others from talking to the author.
2005: Anglomania Celebration at the Met
In 2005, at the Anglomania celebration, a Vogue-sponsored salute to British fashion at the Met, Anna Wintour personally chose the clothes for prominent attendees such as Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Donald Trump, and Diane von Fürstenberg.
2005: Reported Threats During The Devil Wears Prada Production
In 2005, during the production of "The Devil Wears Prada", Anna Wintour reportedly threatened fashion personalities that Vogue would not cover them if they appeared in the film.
2006: The Devil Wears Prada Film Adaptation
In 2006, "The Devil Wears Prada" was adapted into a successful film, starring Meryl Streep as a character believed to be based on Anna Wintour.
2006: Encouraged Brooks Brothers to hire Thom Browne
In 2006, Anna Wintour persuaded Brooks Brothers to hire the relatively unknown Thom Browne.
2006: Fey Sommers in Ugly Betty was likened to Wintour
In 2006, Fey Sommers in Ugly Betty was also likened to Anna Wintour, from the trademark bob and sunglasses, to Wintour's last name homophonous with 'Winter', while Sommers' is homophonous with 'Summer'.
2006: Katherine Wintour writes for The Daily Telegraph
In 2006, Katherine Wintour wrote occasional columns for The Daily Telegraph.
2006: Release of The Devil Wears Prada
In mid-2006, "The Devil Wears Prada" was released to great commercial success. Anna Wintour attended the première wearing Prada.
2006: Wintour's Comments on The Devil Wears Prada
Later in 2006, Anna Wintour said she found the film "The Devil Wears Prada" "really entertaining" and praised it for making fashion "entertaining and glamorous and interesting."
September 2007: Production of September Issue
In September 2007, the production of the September issue was captured during the filming of documentary film "The September Issue".
September 2007: The September Issue Covered by Documentary
The September 2007 issue of Vogue was the subject of R.J. Cutler's documentary, "The September Issue."
2008: Bundler for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, Anna Wintour served as a "bundler" of contributions during Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2008: Officer of the Order of the British Empire
In 2008, Anna Wintour was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Birthday Honours.
2008: Hildy Kuryk worked for Obama's campaign
In 2008, Hildy Kuryk worked as a fundraiser for Obama's campaign.
2008: Pamela Anderson's Criticism
In 2008, Pamela Anderson said Anna Wintour was the living person she most despised "because she bullies young designers and models to use and wear fur."
2008: Milan Fashion Week Scheduling Controversy
In 2008, at Milan Fashion Week, Anna Wintour requested that some key shows be rescheduled for earlier in the week so she and other U.S.-based editors could have time to return home before the Paris shows, leading to complaints and accusations of prioritizing U.S. editors over Italian fashion.
2008: Retirement Rumors
In 2008, rumors arose that Anna Wintour would retire and be replaced by French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld.
2009: Minneapolis residents take umbrage
In 2009, Anna Wintour faced backlash from residents of Minneapolis after she told 60 Minutes she could "only kindly describe most of the people I saw as little houses."
2009: Media Appearances and Documentary Release
In 2009, Anna Wintour increased her media appearances, including a 60 Minutes profile, and the release of "The September Issue" documentary.
2009: Katherine Wintour graduates from Columbia University
In 2009, Katherine Wintour graduated from Columbia University.
2009: The September Issue Documentary Release
In 2009, R. J. Cutler's documentary film, "The September Issue", which initially focused on Anna Wintour's editorship of Vogue, was released.
2010: Fey Sommers in Ugly Betty was likened to Wintour
In 2010, Fey Sommers in Ugly Betty was also likened to Anna Wintour, from the trademark bob and sunglasses, to Wintour's last name homophonous with 'Winter', while Sommers' is homophonous with 'Summer'.
2010: Hall of Fame Induction
In 2010, The American Society of Magazine Editors elected Anna Wintour to its Hall of Fame.
2011: Forbes' Most Powerful Women List
In 2011, after Forbes named her 69th on its list of the world's hundred most powerful women, Anna Wintour dismissed the notion that she has all the power attributed to her.
2011: Vogue Archive Online
In 2011, when Vogue put its entire archive online, Anna Wintour commented on the unplanned nature of the cover photo from her first issue as editor-in-chief.
2012: Reflection on first Vogue cover
In 2012, Anna Wintour reflected on the cover of the issue in November 1988 where she became editor-in-chief.
2012: Bundler for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2012, Anna Wintour served as a "bundler" of contributions during Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
March 2013: Listed as one of the Best-Dressed Over 50s
In March 2013, Anna Wintour was listed as "one of the 50 best-dressed over 50s" by The Guardian.
2013: Hired Hildy Kuryk
In 2013, Anna Wintour hired Hildy Kuryk, who worked as a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee and Obama's 2008 campaign.
2013: Artistic Director for Condé Nast
In 2013, Anna Wintour took on the position of artistic director for Condé Nast, expanding her role within the company.
January 2014: Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Named After Wintour
In January 2014, the Metropolitan Museum of Art named its Costume Institute complex after Anna Wintour, honoring her contributions to the fashion world.
August 2014: Gigi Hadid Pays Tribute to Wintour's First Cover
In August 2014, Gigi Hadid paid tribute to Anna Wintour's first Vogue cover, highlighting its lasting impact on the fashion world.
2015: Emphasis on Luxury in Print Publications
In 2015, Anna Wintour explained her vision for print publications, emphasizing the need for a luxurious experience with photographs and pieces that cannot be found elsewhere.
2015: Favorite Vogue Cover
In 2015, Anna Wintour stated that if she had to pick a favorite of her Vogue covers, it would be the November 1988 cover, which was a leap of faith and a big change for the magazine.
2016: Supported Hillary Clinton's Presidential Campaign
In 2016, Anna Wintour supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and served as a consultant on wardrobe choices.
2016: The Devil Wears Prada 10th Anniversary
In 2016, The Ringer noted how Anna Wintour's personal image had evolved since The Devil Wears Prada's depiction of Miranda Priestley on the 10th anniversary of the film's release. It was noted that the film transformed Wintour's image into a cultural icon.
2016: Anna Wintour Still the Boss
In 2016, on the 10th anniversary of 'The Devil Wears Prada', Anna Wintour was still openly admired and considered the boss. Wintour was seemingly the only person on earth who knew how to run a steady print operation.
January 2017: Rumors of Ambassadorship
In January 2017, it was rumored that Anna Wintour would have become the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom had Hillary Clinton been elected President of the United States.
May 2017: Anna Wintour Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
In May 2017, Anna Wintour was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to fashion and journalism and invested by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
2017: Appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden
In 2017, Anna Wintour appeared on "The Late Late Show with James Corden", where she discussed her career and personal life.
2018: Falling-out with André Leon Talley
In 2018, Anna Wintour had a falling-out with André Leon Talley after he was discontinued as Vogue's Met Gala red carpet reporter, which was exposed in Talley's memoir released in May 2020.
2018: Katherine Wintour Marries Francesco Carrozzini
In 2018, Katherine Wintour married Italian filmmaker Francesco Carrozzini.
May 2020: Release of André Leon Talley's Memoir
In May 2020, André Leon Talley released his memoir, "The Chiffon Trenches", which exposed his falling-out with Anna Wintour in 2018 after he was discontinued as Vogue's Met Gala red carpet reporter.
2020: Endorsed Joe Biden for President
In 2020, Anna Wintour endorsed Joe Biden for the United States presidential election.
2020: Global Chief Content Officer of Condé Nast
In 2020, Anna Wintour took on the role of global chief content officer of Condé Nast, expanding her influence over all Condé Nast publications worldwide.
2020: Promotion to Worldwide Chief Content Officer
In 2020, Condé Nast promoted Anna Wintour to the role of worldwide chief content officer and global editorial director of Vogue.
2023: Suggestion of London Arts Fundraiser
In 2023, Anna Wintour suggested creating an event similar to the Met Gala in London to raise funds for the local arts scene.
2023: Appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour
In 2023, Anna Wintour was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to fashion.
2025: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2025, Dame Anna Wintour was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
