Anna Wintour steps back, China reacts

What happened After 37 years as editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour has announced she is moving to a new role. Wintour informed her staff yesterday that although she will step down as editor-in-chief, she will stay in central positions as global editorial director and chief content officer at Vogue and its publisher Condé Nast. In a statement released by Vogue, Wintour remarked on her journey and the new era to come: “When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine … Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be. And that is exactly the kind of person we need to now look for” “It goes without saying that I plan to remain Vogue's tennis and theatre editor in perpetuity,” the 75-year-old fashion powerhouse added. The Jing Take In China, where Wintour has been cited as “the most powerful woman in fashion,” and where Vogue China has been around since 2005, netizens took to social media platforms to discuss Wintour’s impending move. “Kim Kardashian could do this job,” posted a netizen named Crazy Donkey jokingly. Others took a more sombre approach in discussing Wintour's reign and the state of magazines and traditional publications. “No matter who comes, it’s useless. Print media is no longer in its heyday,” wrote a netizen called Gina. “It's normal. When you get older, let new young people take over. Train your successor,” a netizen named Alex opined about Wintour’s imminent handover. “Although fashion is always changing, Anna has always remained unchanged in the face of changes, and her single product style and dressing formula have never changed,” a netizen stated in a post that discussed Wintour’s unique and iconic formula. “She only wears what suits her,” observed a poster named Old Master Zhang. Wintour’s decades-long career positioned her as one of fashion’s most influential figures, shaping not only Vogue’s identity but the broader Western style agenda. Her impact on Vogue began in 1988, when she moved from London, where she led British Vogue, to take the reins of the American edition. Under her leadership, the magazine evolved into a cultural touchstone, spotlighting rising creatives and balancing runway luxury with everyday wearability. Wintour’s contributions to fashion and journalism have earned the fashion editor formal recognition. She received a damehood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2017 and was named a Companion of Honour by King Charles III earlier this year. Additional research by Emma Li. The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media. Rocco Liu named ‘Vogue China’ editorial director Vogue China EIC Margaret Zhang set to leave role Rihanna’s viral ‘Vogue China’ cover, Jackson Wang’s ‘Chuang Asia: Thailand’ collection

Sectors

Insights

Company

Anna Wintour steps back, China reacts