Anna Wintour Says Kim Kardashian And Kanye West ‘Define The Culture’ : Really?
Anna Wintour, the 64-year-old British born editor of American Vogue forcibly defended her decision to feature Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on the cover of her magazine.
I use the term “her magazine” advisedly, since Anna has occupied the editor’s chair for over 25 years!
The front cover of the April 2014 edition of Vogue was shot by world famous photographer Annie Leibovitz.; Kim and husband Kanye wore their wedding outfits
Rumors and stories have been circulating for months about the possibility of this high profile couple landing the coveted front cover — and it seems they were not without foundation.
The headline on the annual Shape issue of Vogue reads: ” World’s Most Talked About Couple – Their Fashionable Life and Surreal Times.”
Some of the rumors claimed that Anna Wintour does not really have a high opinion of Kim Kardashians’s style or fashion sense. But she does, for some reason, have a high regard for rapper Kanye and his abilities and taste, according to Radar Online.
It was said that West actually begged Wintour for the chance to be in Vogue, and complained bitterly at her initial negative response.
Indeed, in October 2013, West told Ryan Seacrest
“There’s no way Kim Kardashian shouldn’t be on the cover of Vogue right now. She’s like the most intriguing woman right now. She’s got Barbara Walters calling her like every day. And collectively, we’re the most influential with clothing.”
Anna Wintour decided to address the criticism of her decision in an open letter, which was publicized by TooFab.
It reads (in part):
“Part of the pleasure of editing Vogue, one that lies in a long tradition of this magazine, is being able to feature those who define the culture at any given moment, who stir things up, whose presence in the world shapes the way it looks and influences the way we see it.
I think we can all agree on the fact that that role is currently being played by Kim and Kanye to a T.”
Wintour goes on to say that she believes her cover is ” both charming and touching,” while denying absolutely that Kanye West begged her, or put any other pressure on her to use the couple.
She added. “The gossip might make better reading, but the simple fact of the matter is that it isn’t true.
Climbing on the negative bandwagon, Sarah Michelle Gellar (star of “The Crazy Ones”) -! -vowed to cancel her Vogue subscription.
Also joining in the attacks on Anna Wintour was fashion blogger Bryan Boy, “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see the cover of April 2014 issue of US Vogue,” he tweeted.
If nothing else, Anna Wintour is a shrewd marketeer. She must have known the furore her decision would create – but, in her world, there is no such thing as “bad” publicity.
After all, you don’t get to hold onto the position of editor of Vogue for 25 years without knowing something about how the media works.
