Fashion editors don’t follow fashion
![[ unlocked padlock image -- 'cos we're unlocking fashion secrets here! ]](http://www.thebargainqueen.com/images/padlock_unlocked.gif)
Fashion magazines are arguably the single most influential source of fashion information. They show their readers the new trends, hot designers and desirable items — and they encourage readers to buy them.
The editor of a fashion magazine has a great deal of influence over the tone and content of their publication… but they rarely wear most of the trends themselves.
Today, I’ll show you how little the style of three very powerful fashion editors has barely changed over the years, despite massive changes in fashion trends.
Anna Wintour doesn’t follow fashion
Anna Wintour is known as one of the most powerful women in fashion. US Vogue is probably the single most influential fashion magazine in the world, and Wintour is said to rule over every facet of it.
In the last 17 years, countless fashion trends have passed through Vogue’s pages, but see how little Anna Wintour’s style has changed in that time:
![[ Anna Wintour in 1990 and 2007 ]](http://www.thebargainqueen.com/images/photos/anna_wintour.jpg)
(Images, L-R: WordofGod.com and Style.com)
Her trademark dark glasses and bob have been subtly updated to be more contemporary, but are effectively the same style. She has also retained a preference for neutral colours and simple shapes, which look fantastic on her. Note that even the watch is a similar style to what she wore decades ago!
Over 17 years, her style barely changed. She knows what suits her and wears up-to-date versions of it, but she’s recognisably the same person with the same great taste, no matter what year it is.
Diana Vreeland didn’t follow fashion
Long before Anna Wintour’s reign at Vogue, the magazine was already an influential fashion publication, and Diana Vreeland was in charge.
Like Wintour, she had a definite look that evolved subtly over the years, rather than changing with each new fashion.
![[ Diana Vreeland's style, 1945 and 1970s ]](http://www.thebargainqueen.com/images/photos/diana_vreeland.jpg)
(Images, L-R: elangelcaido.org and Divas — the site)
Taken 30 years apart, these photos show Vreeland’s preference for simple shapes in dark colours, complemented with a generous amount of beautiful jewellery. She complements it with minimal makeup and groomed hair, pulled back from her face.
It’s a look that works beautifully for her, that she stuck with all her life.
Carine Roitfeld doesn’t follow fashion
It’s not just stylish Americans who refuse to bow to trends that don’t suit them.
Carine Roitfeld, Vogue Paris’ ultra-chic editor, also has a recognisable style that barely changes from year to year.
![[ Carine Roitfeld in 2001, 2002 and 2006 ]](http://www.thebargainqueen.com/images/photos/carine_roitfeld.jpg)
(Images, L-R: The Fashion Spot, Celebrity Wonder and The Daily Mini scanned by fashionaddict)
All-black ensembles work really well on her, so she ignores each year’s ‘new black’ and keeps wearing the original. She wears interesting masculine-feminine combinations, always with great shoes. She tops it all off with dead straight hair that falls onto her face. She’s certainly chic, and definitely not someone who wears every single new trend.
Tomorrow: fashion designers who don’t follow trends
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You have to admit, there’s a lot of hypocrisy in the industry. The ultimate fashion statement, judging from this little spreadsheet, would be to NOT follow fashion. And yet every few months we have to go through another hamster maze of OMG TRENDY.
Although I find it more funny than sad. Seriously. It’s like a comedy of errors. Have you ever seen a person try to pull off two vividly-clashing trends at the same time? Horrific! And yet, vaguely amusing!
I guess this goes with “mom’s” advice to find out what looks good on you and wear that.
Also, doesn’t this just highlight the difference between looking trendy and looking classy? Most of what one would consider the “old money” style of rich don’t go for trendy, they go for something classic that looks good on them-and they always look good. . . .
Yup! Thank you for pointing this out. I think the key is to simply go with what works on us, with perhaps a twist or two to ensure that we remain fairly “updated”. (”Updated” should be distinguished from “carrying the trendy accessory of the season” - e.g., to really update your look you must wear this season’s It Bag, It Necklace, etc. What if said It Bag clashes with your personal style?)
Adalmin: I couldn’t agree more. Trends and style really don’t go hand-in-hand, but if you believed everything that’s written in fashion mags, you’d be replacing clothes every week!
Jenn: Trendy and classy certainly are different things. Personally, I’ll stick with the latter — I just don’t have the money to be trendy ;)
Oxanna: Your concept of updating a look is spot-on. If this season’s ‘it’ items don’t work for you, it’s definitely better to skip them. And even if they do work for you, if they’re really in this year, you’ve got to consider whether you love it enough to keep wearing it next year when it’s ‘out’…
Great post BQ
I have personally gotten sick of fashion and have been building a more personal, timeless wardrobe - tailored shirts, classic jeans, etc. It’s working out nicely…
Thanks for doing this I think I really needed to see it.
It’s also been playing on my mind for a while to keep a log of what the magazines say is either IN or OUT. I read far too many fashion mags and sometimes they write the in/out list and then three pages on promote something on their own out list. So my assumption is that they not only don’t buy the fashions, they also don’t read the magazines.
Where to go, who to turn to!?
Thanks Jonk! Your wardrobe sounds great. Classics are so much better on most guys (and for that matter, gals as well) than trendy stuff.
JakJak, I’ve noticed some really bizarre stuff in those ‘in’ and ‘out’ lists too. Even if they don’t contradict themselves within the same issue, the things that are declared ‘out’ in one issue are often declared ‘in’ again the very next month. What gives?
This makes me VERY happy.Following trends is stupid,it makes you look like you can’t think for yourself!
Way back in 1957, the movie Funny Face made this exact same point in the number “Think Pink”! Editor Maggie Prescott urges the women of the world to wear pink, the latest color, the new black of the day, during a huge editorial session for a new issue of the fashion magazine she edits. It’s hilarious and excessive. Throughout, she’s the only person NOT wearing pink. Afterwards, one of her assistants asks her when she’s going to wear pink, and she says that she wouldn’t be caught dead in it.
It’s not exactly a new secret, and maybe not even a secret!
Excellent point, Mantelli! I absolutely love that scene from Funny Face. It’s certainly not a well kept secret, but a lot of people just don’t think about it that way when they’re poring over the latest fashion mags.
I have to disagree with a portion of this blog.
Carine Roitfeld does follow fashion, maybe not to the extent of the industry’s seasonal mood swings, but she’s definitely keeping up.
She’s the Editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue, for crying out loud, not to mention where would she put all of those amazing freebee samples given to her by designers of these “trendy” fashion pieces.
She definitely doesn’t spit on them.
http://jakandjil.com/Style%20Spotlight/CarineRoitfeld.html
I do agree though, black is a staple in her wardrobe, but then again so is cerulean, ruby, tan and shades of grey.
Cudos though, to you Sara for noticing that fashionistas around the world don’t always follow magazines, that’s 100% true.
Hi Gigi,
Great comments — and don’t worry, I would never, ever accuse Carine Roitfeld of being behind the times!
She really has a way of putting her own spin on things though, and I’m sure there are many fashion trends she doesn’t wear at all, simply because they’re ‘not her’.
I love the pics of her in that link, but notice that even they say:
“… her personal style, all vertiginous heels and kohled eyes…”
Of course, they’re absolutely right: she has high, high heel and smokey eyes in every photo.
In addition, her hair style is consistent all the time, and while she does indeed wear a pop of color when it’s ‘in’, she still wears neutrals beside her face pretty much always.
I actually love that contradiction in her style. On the one hand, she can wear very edgy pieces; she’s not at all what you’d typically think of as ‘classic’. But on the other hand, she has a very distinctive look and surprisingly consistent look — best described as ‘Carine Roitfeld’s look’ because it’s hers and hers alone.
Thank you for the thought-provoking comment Gigi!
This should be called “Playing safe” rather than having a great style that hasn’t changed over the years..it’s not bad to follow trends if you know how (if you don’t now how, you look ridicilous) I’ve seen quite a few well dressed girls that had at least one trendy item on them and looked great..so these three editors are more likely to be fashion cowards than style gurus..it’s much easier to play it safe and not change one’s style over the years than “boldly go where no fashion magazine editor has gone before” and try to follow the trends they are imposing on us…because they know that sooner or later their style wouldn’t be so perfect anymore…it’s like being a chef at some great restaurant telling everyone they must eat all kinds of food while they eati e.g. only fried potatoes all the time..it’s hypocrisy
Interesting thoughts, Biljana! I think there’s more than a bit of truth there. I think we all get in ruts at some point just by not questioning our habits — even fashion editors.
Think of a sports coach. A lot of top sports coaches have never been great at the sports themselves, but excel at conveying the knowlege of the sport to the team - I guess that’s one way of looking at it.