Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Anna Wintour

Role / Field:

Iconic media executive, shaping global fashion and publishing trends.

Born:

1949-11-03

Century / Era:

1949s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Dame Anna Wintour (; born 3 November 1949) is a British-American media executive who served as editor-in-chief of Vogue from 1988 to 2025. Currently, Wintour serves as global chief content officer and artistic director at Condé Nast. Known for her trademark pageboy bob haircut and dark sunglasses, Wintour is regarded as one of the most powerful women in publishing, and has become an important figure in the fashion world, serving as the lead chairperson of the annual haute couture Met Gala global fashion spectacle in Manhattan since the 1990s. Wintour is praised for her skill in identifying emerging fashion trends, but has been criticised for her reportedly aloof and demanding personality.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Her father, Charles Wintour, who was editor of the London-based Evening Standard from 1959 to 1976, consulted with her on how to make the newspaper relevant to the youth of the era. She became interested in fashion as a teenager and her career in fashion journalism began at two British magazines. Later, she moved to the United States, with stints at New York and House & Garden. She returned to London and was the editor of British Vogue between 1985 and 1987. A year later, she took charge of the franchise...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Alexei Shchusev — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): Master Russian architect spanning Art Nouveau, Constructivism, and Stalinist styles.
• Adolf Dassler — Shared historical date (11-03 · Born) (1900): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Aleksandr Lyapunov — Shared historical date (11-03 · Died) (1918): Pioneering Russian mathematician known for stability theory in dynamical systems.
• Alice Bailey — Historical peer (Died in 1949) (1949): American esoteric writer known for neo-theosophical works and pioneering New Age concepts.
• Amadeo Giannini — Historical peer (Died in 1949) (1949): Pioneering American banker who founded the Bank of Italy and influenced modern finance.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• November 3 (11-03) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 3

Frequently Asked Questions about Anna Wintour