Anna Wintour Steps Down as Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief — What This Means for Fashion’s Future

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 01: Anna Wintour attends the Salvatore Ferragamo show during the Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015 on March 1, 2015 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/Getty Images) It’s the end of an era — and the start of something new. Anna Wintour, the fashion industry’s most enduring editorial power player, is officially stepping down as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue US after 37 years at the helm. The announcement was made today, June 26, during an internal Condé Nast staff meeting, sparking headlines — and speculation — across the fashion world. Anna Wintour at The 78th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall on June 08, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images) Though she’s stepping back from her iconic role overseeing the American edition of Vogue, Wintour isn’t going far. She’ll continue serving as Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast and Global Editorial Director of Vogue, roles that allow her to guide the magazine’s international vision and strategy. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: (L-R) Met Gala Chair Anna Wintour, Met Gala Co-Chair Colman Domingo, and Co-Chair Lewis Hamilton attend the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage) Still, the move marks a monumental shift — not just for Vogue, but for the entire fashion media landscape. Wintour’s tenure is unmatched. Since taking over in 1988, she’s helped launch careers, defined beauty standards, and famously curated everything from September issues to Met Gala guest lists. Her influence has shaped culture far beyond fashion, establishing her as a gatekeeper for designers, celebrities, and trends. As Vogue US searches for a new editorial lead, questions arise: Who will inherit the crown? And more importantly, what does modern fashion media look like without Wintour’s signature bob and sunglasses guiding it? Anna Wintour attends the 30th anniversary celebration of the Whitney Museum’s Breuer Building on November 6, 1996 in New York. Article title: ‘Eye: Widow’s Pique (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images) The timing is telling. In an age where TikTok trends outpace runway recaps, and new generations crave authenticity over elitism, Wintour’s move may signal a passing of the torch — not just to a new editor, but to a new era of fashion storytelling. As audiences look for more diverse, global, and digital-first voices, legacy brands are evolving. At GRAZIA USA, we’ve seen this shift firsthand: a hunger for fresh perspectives, bold storytelling, and fashion that feels personal, not prescribed. Wintour’s next chapter may be global — but for the industry as a whole, it’s a moment to ask who’s next, and what kind of leadership the future of fashion media truly needs. Who Will Inherit the Crown? Fashion Media After Anna Wintour Ayo Edebiri Takes Her Dog ‘Gromit’ For A Stroll In Jacquemus Keke Palmer Serves 90s It-Girl in Archival Chanel Set Due West: Bella Hadid Shows Off Her Equine Skills In Style Telfar Returns to the Runway on Juneteenth — & the Moment Couldn’t Be More Powerful Pierpaolo Piccioli Named Balenciaga’s New Creative Director in a Game-Changing Move

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