Just got back from seeing “The September Issue” and it didn’t disappoint.
R.J. Cutler's new film is an amazing insight into the Vogue office and the world of fashion where as the tagline states: “Fashion is a religion. This is the Bible.”
The film documents the 2007 September issue of Vogue as the team put together the single largest issue of a magazine ever published.
It was intriguing to see Anna Wintour, the editor in chief nicknamed “Ice Queen” behind closed doors and I was surprised to see how charming she can be, for example with the designer Thakoon and there is a particularly touching moment when she says her brother (a political editor for The Guardian) and sister (who works in charity) find her job "amusing."
The film actually has lots of funny moments such as when the brilliantly flamboyant Andre Leon Talley declares: "There is a famine of beauty darling! My eyes are starving for beauty!" and also when he turns up to a tennis lesson (on Anna's orders) in Louis Vuitton.
But the star of the film for me had to be Grace Coddington, creative director at American Vogue who is the genius behind the clothes and the photo shoots who has been working in the business for thirty years. She specialises in 20 page editorials which are often romantic and have a picture book like quality to them (she was the talent behind that magical Alice in Wonderland themed shoot)
Grace and Anna started Vogue at the same time and so Grace is one of the few with the courage to stand up to Anna when she is in her formidable business mode. You cannot deny they are obviously a perfect partnership though with Grace's artistic talent and Anna's straight talking drive.
Altogether it is a fascinating look at what it would be like to work in the famous Vogue office with fashions most influential figure.
Sienna and Anna (in her trademark bob and sunglasses!) at the premiere for The September Issue
The finished result of all the hard work shown in The September Issue
Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour
