Five Things You Didn’t Know about Anna Wintour
Long time American Vogue editor Anna Wintour is one of the most well known women in fashion in the world. Since she took the reigns at Vogue in the late 1980s the British style maven has become almost as notable as the publication itself, and she’s made huge contributions in the area of philanthropy. To say that she’s a big time influencer is an understatement. We all know she loves bob hair styles and arrives super early at fashion shows, but here are five things you probably didn’t know about Anna Wintour.
Journalism Runs in the Family
Anna Wintour’s father, Charles Wintour, served as deputy editor of the London Evening Standard in 1955, which is when he founded the still-running Evening Standard Theater Awards. From 1959 to 1976, Charles Wintour was the magazine’s editor. Anna Wintour followed in his footsteps by working at Harper’s Bazaar. Ironically, she was fired by the publication for supposedly not understanding the American market — we have to wonder how much the person who gave her the pink slip regretted the decision. After a few years at House and Garden magazine, Kathy Keeton’s Viva, and British Vogue, Anna Wintour stepped into the role of editor of US Vogue in 1988. Her task: revive the magazine and draw the attention of American women. Wintour’s brother, Patrick, is political editor of The Guardian, while her daughter, Katherine, spent some time occasionally writing for The Daily Telegraph.
She’s a mother of two grown children
Speaking of Katherine, who is known by the family as Bee, Anna Wintour has two children. In addition to her daughter born in 1987, she has a son named Charles who was born in 1985. Both children are by her former husband of almost 15 years, psychiatrist David Shaffer. During both her pregnancies, Anna Wintour kept wearing her Chanel suits with minis, adjusting for her growing belly by keeping her jacket on and having the skirts altered and opened slightly in the back. There’s no telling what it was really like to grow up with a mother as busy and influential as Anna Wintour, but we can bet she didn’t let her children fly the nest without imparting some invaluable fashion advice.
She’s Paid to Maintain Her Style
We all know that Anna Wintour has a trademark look and is often seen in dark sunglasses, nude Manolo Blahnik kitten heels, tailored jackets, and furs. As Vogue’s editor, she makes plenty to keep her closet brimming with top designer picks, but her look has become so iconic that she’s allowed $200,000 per year on top of her salary for clothing. If the public could get a peek into her closet, I’m sure we’d see some epic Chanel suits. As for those Manolo Blahnik heels that she’s usually seen wearing, Anna Wintour has various shades of nude to match her skin tone in different seasons. Don’t even bother trying to find the ones she wears in stores — Wintour has her shoes custom made and colored just for her.
The bob has been around for a long, long time
You’ll never see Anna Wintour with a bun, long hair, or any hairstyle other than her bob. She’s worn her hair in the style since the age of 15. She often has her bob blown dry twice a day — once early in the morning and again early in the evening — during fashion weeks.
She does fear something: spiders
It’s hard to imagine that Anna Wintour is scared of anything, with her being known to have a cold demeanor and attitude of steel. However, she fessed up in an interview that she has a fear of spiders. With all the assistants around her, it’s doubtful she ever has to deal with them herself.
