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THE WIND BLOWS ELSEWHERE

On June 26, Vogue U.S. Editor In Chief, Anna Wintour, announced she’s shifting focus at all Vogue operations, she’s stepping out of her current domestic role. Anna Wintour however will not leave Condé Nast, Vogue’s parent company, but will continue her large role of being Chief Content Officer of all Vogue and Condé Nast global brands. Condé Nast is now in search of a new domestic Vogue editorial chief, who will in turn report to Anna Wintour. But there’s a bigger question at hand, how will this change next year’s “Met Gala” and beyond?

Under Anna Wintour’s leadership, the “Met Gala” has been the most-honored fashion event that you could be invited to, celebrity or press. The yearly event has guided the fashion industry on what the next 12 months will look like, being an iron fist check mark for brands and designers alike. Notably, September marks the beginning of the year for the fashion industry, which is when the “Met Gala”/ Anna Wintour influence is.

Since 2020, the “Met Gala” has pivoted for all various reasons, first with the coronavirus back in 2020 when it was cancelled till the following year in September 2021. Then it comfortably accepted new celebrity GEN Z blood with the Karl Lagerfield 90’s influence from stars such as Jennie Ortega and Olivia Rodrigo. But the last 2 editions have seen its share of controversy, this time from so-called GEN Z influencers who claim the “Met Gala” is too expensive, or that it’s just become a place to stress a political message, like with Lisa and Rosa Parks on her crotch. Overall, the “Met Gala” may at times felt a bit lost, possibly because the state of fashion is at a crossroads like it’s never been.

Now that Anna Wintour U.S. influence has now been passed onto a soon-to-be named Editor In Chief of Vogue here in the U.S. as Condé Nast aligns America with sister global Vogues, one has to question if Anna Wintour’s “Met Gala” influence will diminish. New blood taking up camp at Vogue HQ here in New York City could come in with new ideas to approach not only fashion, but how the “Met Gala” is presented and perceived. The hope is now U.S. Vogue aligns with global Vogues where Anna Wintour can guide the “Met Gala” and American fashion into a new global direction. Online with more prestigious fashion destinations like Paris, Italy, London, and China as U.S. fashion needs to regain its powerful influence. There’s no telling which 2 scenarios the “Met Gala” will go with, but all we do know is that uncertainty in American fashion needs to leave the conversation.

DANIEL QUINTANILLA