apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

saw it. it touched on, but did not explore some intriguing aspects of the fashion business. like the relationship btw major magazines, retailers and designers. at a retailers luncheon wintour was implored to lean on designers to get product to retailers sooner b/c the retailers lose sales waiting for product. that's the sort of behind the glam info that would make for a fascinating documentary. really connecting the dots btw glossies and the street.

the b story of grace coddington's battles to get her choice shots into the magazine was also a 'sit-up-and-listen.' her statement that so many people have come and gone b/c they just couldn't take the heartbreak was deeply illuminating. since fashion has become (again) one of those much-sought fantasy careers, perhaps some editors should head to career day at their alma maters and give a little insider love slap to the dreamy-eyed. "The bottom is the bottom. The slope is extremely steep. And once you've made it up a ways, everything will still be subject to the EIC's cut. It is that person's vision. Not yours. So determine now to become an EIC, or to be okay as a team player, or simply look to another industry."

I also enjoyed that there were seasoned pros on staff who didn't shake in their boots when wintour comes around. they can handle themselves and remain self-possessed. i hate seeing people shit their pants when a powerful woman comes around. she's not going to eat your face off.

the documentary really glossed over a number of things without giving much depth. it's just a sample of something delicious.

most of all i was surprised (dunno why) that vogue's offices aren't nearly as glam or large as their ever portrayed in film/tv. most new york offices aren't. but i thought 4 times square must be so much more awesome (shiny, glass, gleamy) than the madison avenue building was.

those chairs are awesome, but only for the people coming in to the office for a short while - not for her.
Can anyone tell me how she can sit on them for at least 8hrs a day?!!!

Meh. The red-and-leopard office Diana Vreeland had when she was editor-in-chief of Vogue was way more interesting.

@ ROSALEEN - I think she goes by "fashion over comfort." :D

Im not thrilled by the space esp with the ceramics dominating her table.

@ LAWRENCEVON, I agree. This office definitely does not emit the feeling I would expect from a woman with a usual knack for style.

Funny how there are no comments about the cold and garish decor her townhouse. I guess an amazing eye for fashion doesn't necessarily translate into an amazing eye for interior design.

I am really left underwhelmed by these photos. I can think of an executive or two who favors an uncomfortable office chair for the sake of the look, but really, this is the most compelling and fashionable perch she could imagine?

She needs to hang out with me.

Okay, apropos of my last comment I have just written the silliest post imaginable suggesting Ms. Wintour pick out some new office furniture. Have a chuckle: http://onegrandhome.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/anna-wintour-needs-a-offic/ . I'm looking forward to seeing the film. I'm sure my husband is looking forward to skipping it.

The doco on Valentino is far more interesting than this one. How Ms WIntour can sit on that chair and move it back and forth all day long is beyond me. Unless of course its some form of exercise for keeping that slim figure. I found Grace Coddington the real star of this film.

Why am I not surprised that the chairs she has for guests look so uncomfortable?

Some designers and others in the arts often keep items in front of them that suggest certain color combos or shapes or other design ideas. The display morphs with the ideas. Perhaps that's what is going on with the stuff on her desk.
Maybe I am projecting
She is a strict, no nonsense editor and those hard chairs are probably to keep things moving at a fast clip. I suspect she likes to keep folks a wee bit uncomfortable when facing her. I sure hope there are other chairs in her office for the anointed who are invited to linger.

she can't possibly sit at her desk for 8 hours. she's the head of the magazine. wintour must be in meetings all over town, all day long. the most she does at that computer is look at emails. she has a full support staff and anything she needs to see is either brought in or in the departments of people who work with visuals.

i s'pose her office encourages people to get to the point. in and out.

It's a fun movie with just a glimmer of what goes on at Vogue. No one's opinion matters more than Ms. Wintour's, but that's not news worthy. She is direct and decisive which is not a bad thing at all. I was surprised that she was restrained even when Mario Testino did not deliver the images he met with her and promised. Wintour has to deal with a huge egos. I actually think she removes herself from the fray. The other interesting aspect of the film, she can make or break a designer with the flip of a Sharpie.

Miranda Priestly's office in Devil Wears Prada was dead on.

Ugh, that is one ugly lamp on her desk. I sure hope her taste in clothing is better. Those poor fashion designers!

priestley's was much bigger, as is candice bergen's in sex & the city.

Liked the film. Found Anna and especially Grace to be interesting. Remarked to my friends as soon as the movie was over on how those galvanized chairs could be at all practical!

Before Anna Wintour did Vogue, she was the decorating editor for New York magazine. During that brief time, she did some of the most amazing interior shoots I've ever seen. If anyone at AT cares to trek to the NY magazine archives, go for it. It was pre-computer archives.

I'm not a fan of her current office look. However, she's dead if she's not the cutting edge. It's got to take a toll. What is extremely beautiful has been done before.

As to the offices not being as glam as you might expect, nothing in New York is, except Grand Central Station and the Chrysler building. And the latest trendy restaurants. Offices in New York tend to overwhelm.

New York City is not Neiman Marcus on steroids. Space is expensive, whether you live or work in it.

As to the offices not being as glam as you might expect, nothing in New York is, except Grand Central Station and the Chrysler building. And the latest trendy restaurants. Offices in New York tend to overwhelm.

yeah, i said that in the rest of my sentence. i know from living here twelve years what it's like.

I know someone who has furniture like that at their house, all hard and angles, not a soft cushy thing in sight except the bed. This person - who, oddly enough, looks like a lot Ms Wintour and has had a number of high power jobs - doesn't like sitting softly at all. She'd rather stand.

I feel much better about myself and my place after seeing The September Issue. I like the way AW didn't try to hide wrinkles from the camera. Maybe she uses botox, but not to excess it seems. I will def not bother to put braces on my lower teeth, as she obviously did not -- although she might have veneers on her upper teeth.
I loved her townhouse, which felt semi-slapped together with very odd pieces of furniture and jumps of color. Not at all "done" and somehow, at the same time, not looking as if trying for that "not done" look.

And of course Grace Coddington is the real artist but, as she herself points out, would have no venue for her genius were it not for AW's business sense that keeps Vogue going.

Has anyone located further screenshots of the office, shoot locations, townhouse or AW's Hampton house online?

Just finished watching it, and amongst lots of other thoughts i promise you, i can't stop thinking about the delicious white and yellow lampshade that sits on Anna's desk. Has anyone identified it?? It's so simple, yet juicy and somehow elegant. Please help or i shall simply paint my own! Now that's an idea...

I was BEYOND disappointed by the W. Cardies and shift dresses, every day, really? With Grace the basic black makes sense - she's on her hands and knees half the time - but I couldn't fathom the total lack of passion or creativity in Anna's wardrobe. And her office and apartment were TERRIBLE! I couldn't get over those cafe chairs - what a weird choice for the executive of Vogue.

And can we talk about her apartment? 80's English country, chintz and tassels, tacky pottery. The only thing I could figure is that she doesn't feel compelled to impress people and so has just a sort of average, boring home but my god, you are the editor of VOGUE!

But I bet Grace and Andre have places to sigh and die over.