Thank you, R.J. Cutler for directing and producing this truthful, honest, and insightful documentary inside Vogue’s preparation for their September issue of 2007. The largest one created to date. The September Issue effectively illustrates what drives the editors, stylists, and contributors of Vogue: love, appreciate, and respect for fashion. The documentary also shows the artistry, intelligence, and passion that go into every page of Vogue. This film will wash the bad taste out of the mouths of many that was left by 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada. That film depicted Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of Vogue, as a heartless and mean spirited woman. And fashion as a silly industry. This documentary rescues fashion’s reputation.
Anna Wintour opens the film sitting in her Long Island, New York home confronting some hesitations many have about fashion. She says, “People are frightened of fashion because it makes them insecure. There is something about fashion that can make people very nervous.” She is direct and shows little emotion when she speaks, but she is also very human. She is not the devil by any means. She is an extremely important woman. When the film shifts to inside of Vogue’s New York City office, Vogue publisher Tom Florio praises Anna Wintour as, “The single most important figure in the 300 billion dollar fashion industry”. And he is right. She has helped launch the careers of many influential designers and veteran designers will often modify their lines at the advice of Ms. Wintour. When she visits Stefano Pilati (head designer at Yves Saint Laurent) in Paris, he is jittery when Wintour asks him why there is no color in his collection. Thakoon, another designer recollects how he couldn’t stop shaking the first time Wintour viewed his collection.
Fashion Editor Grace Coddington is another influential figure at Vogue magazine and an extremely important part of the September 2007 issue. Many of her fellow Vogue editors consider her, “The greatest living stylist”. Her photo shoots are amazing and her passion is inspiring. She is so serious about her work and is visibly upset when Wintour slashes some of her photos from the issue. Coddington feels Wintour’s only concern is the celebrity cover shoot of actress Sienna Miller. There is constant conflict between the two during the film, but they have mutual respect for each other. There is resolution in the end and the issue is a success.
This film is a must-see for everyone, but especially for those who have misconceptions about the fashion industry or want to know the real deal. This is a film that fashion heads can be proud of because it is an honest depiction of our industry, not a dramatized Hollywood version. Fashion really needed The September Issue. Go out and see it!
Mekeda Grant - Fashion Editor
