>> Although she rarely gives interviews — except for, you know, the lengthy one in The September Issue and that profile she's supposedly doing for 60 Minutes (rumor is their cameras were following her again at the amfAR Gala Thursday night), so maybe she's changed her mind — Anna Wintour sat down with Rachel Dodes of The Wall Street Journal right before New York Fashion Week for a quick fashion state-of-the-union-interview.
But before we get started, a sidenote — the coat she wore Thursday (left) looks to be from Peter Som's Fall 2009 capsule collection, so methinks he will be taken care of just fine. Now, among the interview's highlights:
Now is not the time to look "too Dubai."
I don't think anyone is going to want to look overly flashy, overly glitzy, too Dubai, whatever you want to call it. I just don't think that's the moment. But I do feel an emphasis on quality and longevity and things that really last.
She won't name names, but some designers aren't making clothes that are worth the price tag.
In the [Vogue] Index pages we are looking more rigorously at price and value and asking, 'is something worth that particular price tag?'
A thing that wasn't worth it? Without naming names, we had a little sequined thing that wouldn't come down to here on you [points to chest.] And I said, 'How much is it?' $25,000. I said, 'No. We're not going to photograph that right now.'
She thinks Michelle Obama "wears clothes beautifully" and "it's empowering for women all over the world."
Working with other brilliant people in Washington previously, I felt they've been nervous about clothes, about being criticized and not taken seriously. Washington has been very conservative. But I think now we have a beautiful and brilliant First Lady who loves clothes and enjoys them, and she is going to send that message to women all over America — they can wear beautiful clothes and still be taken seriously.
Awesome — she uses that stereotypical fashion word: "fabulous."
One of the collaborations we do through the [CFDA/Vogue] Fashion Fund is with the Gap [wherein the winners design their own twist on the classic white shirt]. Gap takes the designers all over the world, and photographs them with young models wearing the shirts. And the shirts are fabulous.
*image: source
Start London
With the economy being at the state that it is right now, I totally agree with Anna Wintour about the style right now not being “Dubai”. People can afford to shop right now, and definitely can not afford anything that is outrageously expensive. I like the fact that Anna Wintour has decided not to feature certain expensive clothes in the issue of Vogue. For instance, an outfit worth $25,000 was denied by her due to it being unrealistic. Many readers of the magazine, including myself, do not want to see clothing that is so outrageously priced. I want to be able to relate to the clothing featured in the magazine, and right now my bank account, as many others, can not afford expensive clothing. It shows that Anna Wintour knows what her target market wants and is choosing to feature more appropriate clothing in her ad campaigns and in her featured articles.
I find it annoying when I look through Elle magazine or Vogue and see ridiculous outfits costing thousands of dollars. Who is going to buy these outfits right now? Obviously the insanely rich will continue to shop till they drop but I on the other hand have to watch my budget.
I totally agree with Anna Wintour that Michelle Obama is fabulous and chooses clothing that models the society in a great and intellectual way. Michelle Obama can wear anything she wants. But she chooses to buy clothing from companies such as J.Crew which allows the people of United States to relate to her in a good way. She does not take fashion to seriously but wears clothing that is simple, sleek and elegant. She in a great role model and I look up to this women. J.Crew received a lot of buzz when Michelle Obama wore their outfit and many consumers went out and bought the same outfit she wore.
Consumers are looking for good deals and clothing that lasts.