post script - the september issue

As some of you know, on Friday night I went to see The September Issue, the RJ Cutler fly on the wall documentary about Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of US Vogue magazine and the most feared and revered figure in fashion. The cameras follow Anna and the Vogue team as they put together the September 2007 issue. This documentary was made at the height of the fashion industry, before the economic bubble burst. Things may not be quite so rosy this year at the annual Vogue retailers breakfast. In 2007 we see the CEO of Neiman Marcus asking for Anna's help to persuade the designers to deliver on time because demand for high fashion is far exceeding supply. If only we retailers had that problem now!

The cover girl for this issue is Sienna Miller - lets just say, for those of us who feel slightly less than perfect, that although this image by Mario Testino is wholly Sienna, it is the sum of many parts - 'this head on this neck on this body' and minus 2 dental fillings. Oh for the wonders of photoshop in my everyday!

And as much as this movie is about Anna Wintour, the shining star for me is Grace Coddington, Vogue's creative director, who started at the magazine the very same day as Wintour, working at British Vogue & as a fashion model before that. Grace is my new hero. I love Grace! Her eye is incredible and her fashion shoots are a marvel, transporting us to places we've never been, and showing us things we either never could, nor would wear. She is the only one to stand up to Anna, and although the relationship is testy at times, the two share a mutual respect & admiration for each others talents.


Much time in the movie is spent reviewing the fashion shoots, with Anna having the final say on what makes it in to the issue and what does not. So, I was very surprised when, with my new found appreciation of the magazine, while flicking through the October 2007 issue at the library on Saturday, I came across this beautiful 'haute couture' feature by Grace, which after all it seems, did not in fact make it in to the September issue. Poor Grace! (You'll know what I mean if like me, you've seen the movie.)

Go and see this movie when it comes out on general release in September. It's quite amazing!

Oh, and by the way - it looks as if the cameraman and his tummy both made it into the final cut! Anna told him he needed to join a gym. Grace on the other hand said, "Everyone in this world is not perfect. It's enough that the models are." Some comfort for us mere mortals!

(All images courtesy Vogue magazine) Pin It