Grace Coddington, the 74-year-old creative director of American Vogue, the yin to the editor Anna Wintour’s yang, and an accidental celebrity since the 2009 documentary “The September Issue,” announced she is dialing down her role, way back, at the magazine and becoming “creative editor at large,” doing “several” articles a year for the glossy and exploring outside opportunities. She was always less interested in the commercial side of the business and had almost no interest in the digital side of things, eschewing computers and email, sounds a lot like the Mistress. She favored models over celebrities, and she was clear about designers she revered and those she did not — all reasons she and Ms. Wintour were such good sparring partners.
Ms. Coddington isn’t exactly going gently into that good night. She is creating a perfume with Comme des Garçons, due out in April and doing another book on her work at Vogue “Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue,” weighs 10 pounds, contains 400 pages of shoots! A sure must for my coffee table. And she even started out at Vogue as a model herself. But for me she was always a inspiration on her photo spreads, which I could look at all day. The fashions and the textures she mixes together was quite astounding and she has always been a great role model to me in my own work. No denying her great talent of knowing fashion and putting together a hell of a great story into a spread.....
I wish Grace much luck on her next chapter of life, and send out a hug THANK YOU for being a great inspiration to me.
What a beautiful post to her work. Vogue is like a bible to me in my work.... what a shame; I’ve always liked her approach to her work, and her attitude. I’ll be curious to see what impact her departure has on the magazine
ReplyDelete“Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue,” weighs 10 pounds...
ReplyDeleteThat's heavier than some of the models!
And probably contains more knowledge.
DeleteI predict Anna will consume fewer antacids. I think Grace is the only one who doesn’t kiss her hems
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy her distinctive look and her fashion spreads. She stands out in every crowd and absolutely owns her style. To me, she is a paragon of fashion
ReplyDeleteCan't say I'm shocked, it was a matter of time to happen. Soon a "digital savvy" stylist will take her role. Regardless, I agree with Sally Singer, who says in "The September Issue" that Grace is the best stylist in the world. Before cancelling my subscription of American Vogue when I moved, her editorials were the only reason I looked forward to the next issue. She will do great wherever she goes, I'm sure
ReplyDeleteI like her style and work. After watching The September Issue I did feel bad based on how Anna treated her though...Hope that is just my uninformed perspective and she enjoyed her time there.
ReplyDeleteGrace is a visionary that has influenced many many fashion houses, models, photographers and artistic directors. Much of it behind the scenes. Her influence is beyond compare. The only other 2 people who have had this much influence and input into fashiobn are Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld. I find it funny that a lot of the commentators probably do not know of her and what she has accomplished in her long career. She is a fixture and an icon. I hate to admit, but being only three years younger, I can remember her on the cover of vogue!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be honest, I don't know much about her, but that fashion spreads are incredible.
ReplyDeleteI never followed her like yourself, but she most certainly knew a great editorial spread.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed getting to know a bit about her when I watched The September Issue. She is a visionary. I wish her well in her next chapter. I got the call from my business partner yesterday, we are meeting for lunch today to discuss his retirement transition. He's my yang. This will be a time of transition that I must turn into opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI have never knew of her much, but I did see the September Issue. I found her relationship with Anna very interesting. It was interesting to see how creative she was and would get push back on her creativity. That must be hard to constantly fight for your creativity and artistic skills.her photo spreads were quite stunning.
ReplyDeleteI too love the relationship they had. I can also feel what she goes though. When we do store displays or windows, corporate always says think outside the box. We do have creative freedom to a point, but they always shoot down a initial idea, which can be crushing... then it's a matter of getting as much as your idea through to the display meeting somewhere in the middle, but more so with my ideas. I v'e been known to "teak" a display after pictures were sent,
DeleteWell, my darling mistress, you are within the path of the storm... I hope you stay safe and sound. Have plenty of Hot Toddies, Hot Chocolate, or whatever hot libations you might prefer. Then hunker down under a pile of blankets with one of the houseboys. Warm hugs!
ReplyDeleteHot Toddys, Hot Tylers, Hot Mitchells, Hot Lads.......
DeleteWhat a beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased that some of her glorious photo-spreads from our annual picnics made it into this post.
ReplyDeleteDear Grace. Anna Wintour will be quite lost (for a while) without her. Jx
I think your right dear Jon. Who will keep Anna grounded?
DeleteBeautiful!!!!!
ReplyDelete