Podcast Summary: The Run-Through with Vogue — "Anna Wintour On Vogue’s Next Era" (September 9, 2025)

Overview:

This landmark episode features a special crossover with the New Yorker Radio Hour. Anna Wintour, the legendary Editor-in-Chief of Vogue and current Global Editorial Director at Condé Nast, sits down with David Remnick to reflect on her legacy, the fast-changing world of fashion, and the magazine's future as Chloe Malle steps in as the new Head of Editorial Content for American Vogue. The discussion covers editorial leadership, fashion’s evolving social and political context, print vs. digital strategy, inclusivity, the industry’s economic realities, and signature Wintour insights on creativity and style.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Passing the Torch: Chloe Malle’s New Role

• Anna Wintour on Malle:
  Anna expresses confidence and high praise for Chloe’s appointment, noting her balance of vision and understanding of contemporary culture.
  • “She really had to prove herself. During the interview process, we saw a lot of amazing, amazing candidates. And Chloe consistently came back with the clearest vision and the most original ideas and understanding of what a Vogue...in two years is gonna look like.” — Anna Wintour (03:14)
• Specifies Chloe’s strengths: newsroom acumen, understanding of culture, humor (e.g., her wildly successful “Doge” story).
• Anna reflects on the timing of her decision, citing sweeping industry changes:
  • “There's well over 40 new creative directors in very high level positions all over Europe and some here...it seemed like a good moment to bring in someone with a different perspective and a different generation who could look at things in a new way.” (04:15)

2. Editorial Transition: Overlapping Eras

• Anna and Chloe will work in the same office space, a dynamic both acknowledge as odd but strategically positive.
  • "I implicitly trust Chloe, and I want her to succeed to the best possible degree...She doesn’t work in any way in isolation. She’s very open. She’s very communicative." (06:23-06:50)
• Anna insists Malle is “her own person,” not an “Anna Mini Me”:
  • "She just wants to be herself and show herself and prove herself and make news, as I'm sure she will." (08:12)

3. Vogue’s Changing Influence: From Print to Digital

• Remnick prompts discussion on Vogue’s reach in the TikTok and Instagram era:
  • "Chloe has a much bigger platform than I had when I came in." (08:54)
• Print’s role is described as increasingly special and event-driven, not a vehicle for day-to-day content:
  • "We all look at print as something that is collectible and something you might want to archive and hold onto. And I think it also has to represent a news breaking moment." (12:08)

4. Fashion’s Place in Troubled Times

• Wintour passionately defends fashion’s creative and expressive significance, even amidst crises:
  • “How boring would it be if everybody was just wearing a dark suit and a white shirt all the time?... It's a form of creativity. And that's why we need fashion and great designers.” (14:06)
• Politically, Anna regards Vogue’s progressive slant as closely tied to her personal values, adding, “It’s a tough time for Democrats...hopefully somebody will emerge in the not too distant future that will challenge our current administration.” (31:44)

5. Editorial Control, Leadership, and Global Vision

• Myth of total control: Anna says her singular overseeing touch is “exaggerated” (14:50), emphasizing team empowerment.
• Details her evolving role as global editorial director, overseeing all editions but relying on local expertise for cultural nuance.
  • “There's no way that you can keep up with every single platform across all the territories. But I certainly keep my eyes out.” (15:29)

6. Formative Experiences and Style

• Anna recounts her journalistic upbringing and ambition (“write you want to be editor of Vogue” at age 13), getting fired from Harper's Bazaar, and her multitasking days at New York Magazine.
• On her own style:
  • “For my hair, it was always pretty much this way.” (23:58)
  • “The glasses—just because I’m very short sighted, but they also help me get through situations.” (24:15)
• Typical day: rising early, reading broadly, maintaining fitness, and diving headlong into work (24:51-25:34).

7. Industry Dynamics: Designer Turnover and Creative Renewal

• Discusses the unprecedented wave of new creative directors at major houses:
  • “It’s one moves and then it's like a pack of cards...But it is totally true that this is the first time...we had so many openings in so many high profile houses... I think it will be a very creative moment.” (26:57)
• Shout-outs: Jonathan Anderson at Dior, Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, Sarah Burton at Givenchy, Louise Trotter at Bottega, Demna at Gucci, etc. (27:45)

8. Luxury vs. Creativity

• Anna disdains the term ‘luxury,’ calling it “dated” and overused:
  • “It seems like a sort of dated...I like the idea of creativity...you're investing in someone's creativity and vision. And to me, that's much more interesting than the idea of luxury.” (29:29-30:13)

9. Economic Realities: Trade, Tariffs, and Uncertainty

• Anna notes industry anxiety over “Trump’s tariffs,” shifting production out of China, and the challenges for smaller businesses (31:00).
• Remnick and Anna discuss consumers’ hesitation as they await the vision of incoming designers.

10. Pop Culture and Political Moments

• Anna describes being unaware of AOC’s famous “Tax the Rich” dress until the day after the Met Ball:
  • “I just love your dress. Cause I'd only seen her from the front, and it wasn't until the next day that I understood what had happened.” (18:10)
• On The Devil Wears Prada:
  • Anna quietly embraced the caricature, found it “highly enjoyable and very funny,” and took pride in its wit and humor (33:57-34:24).

11. Celebrity Covers and Editorial Evolution

• Defends the shift to celebrities on Vogue covers (e.g., Madonna), reflecting changing audiences:
  • “Madonna...certainly loved and epitomized fashion...and it just felt like the right time.” (35:24)
• She recounts resistance from traditionalists, which confirmed Vogue needed to evolve.

12. Proudest Achievements

• Anna refuses to name a single defining story or cover:
  • “It's about who you surround yourself with entirely. And in the end, that's by far the most important accomplishment to me.” (36:16)

13. Lightning Round and Personal Quips

• On the greatest designer of her era: “As editor, David, I only look towards the future.” (37:51)
• Most lamentable trend: “DayGlo.” (38:05)
• Fact-checking rumors (e.g., “Jeff Bezos was interested in buying Conde Nast: false.” 38:11)
• On her favorite look for Remnick: “I really like you in those New Yorker sweatshirts.” (38:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the print-digital future:
  “Print has to feel more substantial, more important. I mean, it's our Runway show.” — Anna Wintour (12:52)

• On fashion’s value:
  “People are individuals and they ought to be able to express themselves, and it's a form of creativity. And that's why we need fashion and great designers.” — Anna Wintour (14:06)

• On creative leadership:
  "You have to learn how to do everything...and that was the best training." — Anna Wintour (21:33)

• On personal ambition:
  “He said, well, you just write you want to be editor of Vogue. And so, yes...I wrote that in and then I felt confident and yes, this was something that I could work towards.” — Anna Wintour (20:37)

• On 'Devil Wears Prada':
  “I found it highly enjoyable and very funny...it had Meryl Streep. I mean, it was Emily Blunt. I mean, they were all amazing. And in the end, I thought it was a fair shot.” (34:24)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Chloe Malle’s appointment and Anna’s endorsement: 02:30–04:12
• Editorial transition and office dynamics: 05:43–07:52
• Print vs. digital discussion: 10:49–13:50
• On fashion’s relevance during tough times: 14:41
• Anna’s career beginnings, style, work habits: 20:04–25:34
• Wave of new designers and naming standouts: 26:48–28:57
• Luxury vs. creativity: 29:29–30:13
• Political engagement and the role of Vogue: 31:26–32:32
• Pop culture, AOC’s Met Ball moment, and The Devil Wears Prada: 18:10, 33:05–34:24
• Celebrity covers and evolution of Vogue: 34:40–36:12
• Lightning Round & personal quips: 37:47–38:51

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, witty, and reflective, characterized by Anna’s signature poise and razor-sharp clarity, Remnick’s thoughtful questioning, and moments of affectionate humor as they look both backward and forward at Vogue and its transformative cultural influence.

For those interested in the inner workings of Vogue, Anna Wintour’s legacy, and the future of fashion media, this episode is a masterclass in editorial leadership, adaptability, and vision.