Top 10 Ways Anna Wintour Influenced Pop Culture

#10: Setting Accessible Trends

One of Wintours most groundbreaking changes at Vogue was acknowledging that most people dont leave the house looking like they just stepped off a runway. She understood that her readers still wanted to look good, but for the most part, their wardrobes probably werent overflowing with the most luxurious labels on the market. So, she blended designer pieces with clothes that made sense for real life. Suddenly, flipping through Vogue didnt feel like peering into some unreachable fashion fantasy. It felt personal. Relatable. Stylish and wearable. Wintour wasnt just making fashion more affordable; she showed that great style comes from how you wear something, not how much it costs.

#9: A Fashion Trailblazer

Youre probably thinking, yeah, no, duh, but stick with us. Plenty of designers owe at least part of their rise to Wintour. Shes the one who reportedly helped a fresh-faced John Galliano get his foot in the door at Dior, gave Thom Browne a leg up with the Brooks Brothers, and continuously championed names like Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs on their way up to household-level chic. She even launched the Vogue Fashion Fund to give up-and-comers a fighting chance in an industry that eats its young. Her taste doesnt just influence style, it creates it. Like it or not, when Wintour speaks, the fashion world listens.

#8: Bob-bing into Animation

Trends come and go, but Anna Wintours bob is practically untouchable. Shes reportedly been sporting it since her teen years, and honestly, its hard to picture her without it. So when a certain animated fashion maven shows up with a similar do, it doesnt take a style historian to guess the inspiration. Yep, Edna Mode from The Incredibles franchise is said to be inspired by a few icons, but the Wintour energy is strong. Shes poised, powerful, and absolutely not here for your nonsense. And really, if youre designing for superheroes, wouldnt you want the best of the best? We just wonder how she feels about capes, Dahling.

#7: Finding the Political Fashion Intersection

Wintour is not only the influential leader of Vogue, she also believes that fashion can be a powerful political force. Shes used the magazines massive platform to bring politics and style together in a way that feels relevant and impactful. Featuring figures like Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Dr. Jill Biden, and Olena Zelenska on Vogues covers, shes highlighted important stories that reach beyond just fashion fans. During the height of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, Wintour didnt shy away from Vogues past shortcomings. She owned them and backed plans for change with meaningful action. For Wintour, fashion isnt just about looks; its about shaping culture and sparking change.

#6: Making Waves with Her First Cover

Remember when we said Wintour made fashion less like an exclusive VIP-only club? She made that splash with her first, well, splash. Instead of the usual head-to-toe designer fantasy on a plain white backdrop, she put model Michaela Bercu in the real world wearing a luxe Christian Lacroix jacket with Guess stonewashed jeans. A first for Vogue! Bercu wasnt staring blankly into the camera with a frozen pout. Rather, with hair blowing, looking elsewhere, and smiling, this felt candid and relatable. It was such a detour that the printers thought it was a mistake! But nope, Wintour just launched the era of the real cost of looking good. And shes never looked back.

#5: A Musical Muse

Wintours influence isnt just stitched into the fabric of fashion but woven into the music biz too. Shes name-dropped in hits like Jay-Z and Alicia Keys Empire State of Mind, Nicki Minajs Come on a Cone and Muny, and Childish Gambinos New Prince. In 2018, Azealia Banks even dropped a track called Anna Wintour, calling her a strong, powerful and larger-than-life soul and saying, I see a woman who was born into this world with an absolute certainty about her place in it. It's no surprise that Wintours name has become the ultimate power flex. Its become practically synonymous with letting everyone know that youre playing in the big leagues?

#4: Revolutionizing the September Issue

If you consider yourself even a little fashion-forward, you know the September Issue is basically the style worlds Super Bowl. It launches the fall fashion season when new trends and designer collections showcase their stuff and advertisers throw down big bucks for a slot. Wintour pulls back the curtains on it all in a way that would make even those who cant tell turquoise from lapis or cerulean care. With creative director Grace Coddington and a whole crew of designers, models, and photographers, she turns what could be a stiff, boring process into a real, human story. It really makes you appreciate why it takes a whole village to bring it all together.

#3: Ushering In the Age of Celebrity

Switching up Vogues covers wasnt the only game-changing move Wintour made. While she definitely helped catapult supermodels into the spotlight, she did even more by moving us past that era. She expanded Vogues reach beyond the fashion crowd by putting actors, musicians, politicians, and even athletes on the cover. You might not know Marc Jacobs, but you know Madonna. Dior may not be your thing, but Diana? Oh yeah! Salvatore Ferragamo, who? But Serena Williams, for sure! Her choices were about more than just style; they created cultural moments with serious impact. We wont say Wintour invented celebrity culture, but she sure helped build the bridge that got us there.

#2: The Devil Wears Sunglasses

A British high-powered fashionista who bosses her job and has the fashion industry wrapped around her little finger sounds suspiciously familiar. Author Lauren Weisberger was, after all, Anna Wintours assistant once upon a time. Shes insisted the character isnt a straight copy-and-paste, but a blend of shared stories between her and her friends. For the film, Meryl Streep claimed she didnt set out to impersonate Wintour directly, though the ever-present sunglasses used to keep the world at arms length feel like a pointed nod. Even Wintours daughter reportedly couldnt deny the resemblance. Wintour herself seemingly had mixed feelings, but she still showed up to the films premiere (in Prada) and the West End musicals opening.

#1: The Met Gala

Before Wintour, the Met Gala was a quiet little shindig for fashion insiders and New Yorks social elite. Then she blew the doors wide open, inviting Hollywood stars, music legends, athletes, and even politicians. Themes werent her invention, but her twists pushed designers to think bigger, creating looks that break the internet and spark memes. She manages every detail: guest lists, seating charts, and anything else you can think of (and probably some things we wouldnt even consider). What started as a low-key fundraiser turned into a headline-stealing, trend-setting cultural phenomenon. If the September Issue is the Super Bowl, the Met Gala is the Super Bowl halftime show, Olympics, and every awards show rolled into one.

What do you think is Wintours biggest legacy? Let us know in the comments