Anna Wintour is not retiring

Anna Wintour is not retiring. The formidable British editor, at 75, is not leaving Vogue; she is merely stepping down from her role as editor-in-chief of the US edition. This position will remain under her supervision as she continues as the global content director of Condé Nast. Wintour will keep overseeing the content of international publications such as Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour, Tatler, Allure, and Teen Vogue.

"Anyone working in a creative field knows how essential it is to never stop growing in one's work. When I became editor of Vogue in 1988, I was eager to show everyone who would listen that there was a new and exciting way to envision an American fashion magazine," Wintour recalled when announcing a new phase for the publication to her team. "Now," she added, "I find my greatest pleasure in helping the next generation of passionate editors break into the field with their own ideas, supported by a fresh and exciting vision of what a great media company can be."

Wintour assured that she will continue to pay "close attention to the fashion industry and the creative cultural force that is our extraordinary Met Ball, charting the course for future Vogue Worlds, and any other original and bold ideas we come up with." "But how exciting it will be to work alongside someone new who challenges us, inspires us, and makes us think about Vogue in countless original ways," the magazine revealed about the executive's words during a meeting with her employees.

Her signature bob haircut and inseparable Wayfarer sunglasses make Wintour an easily recognizable figure who has transcended into an icon. She is as praised professionally for her ability to identify trends as she is criticized for her difficult character in close quarters. Notably, one of her former personal assistants, Lauren Weisberger, wrote the bestseller 'The Devil Wears Prada' inspired by her experience under the British editor, who attended the film's premiere dressed in the Italian brand.

Perfectionist and impatient, it is said that Vogue staff know not to initiate interactions with her and even avoid sharing elevators. As reflected in the film, she is known for making implausible requests, such as checking a photographer's trash to retrieve a photo he refused to give her.

In response to such claims, Wintour defends herself by saying if she is "such a bitch," she doesn't know how so many people have worked with her for 15 or 20 years. "If sometimes one appears cold or brusque, it's simply because I strive to achieve the best," she has stated on occasion. Regarding accusations of her refusal to hire overweight people, she doesn't deny it: "For me, it's important that the people who work here, especially in the fashion department, present themselves in a way that makes sense to the outside world as if they work at Vogue." "She is honest. She tells you what she thinks. Yes is yes and no is no," said the late designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Unreservedly, she had no qualms about stating that she featured Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on the cover because having only "very tasteful" people in the magazine is "boring." The exuberant celebrity is a staple at the annual gala of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which Wintour organizes. It's the only party where she stays for more than 20 minutes, according to the BBC documentary series 'Boss Woman,' which details that the British editor wakes up at 5:30 am, plays tennis, and then, at 7:30, heads to the Vogue offices. She only turns off her phone to avoid being disturbed while eating a plate of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.