Vogue revamp: Normalize guest editors

In a world of notorious fashion moguls, there exists only one Anna Wintour. Everything about her is iconic — from her silky bob to her iconic sunglasses. People know Wintour as the influential and long-standing editor of Vogue magazine. Her work is unmatched when compared to other magazine editors and so was her next choice.

The next issue of Vogue will be edited by someone else. 

Wintour has opened the magazine up to fresh ideas since the 1980s when she was hired as editor-in-chief. She revolutionized Vogue by spotlighting unconventional cover models — like politicians and culturally-relevant stars. 

No other magazine has opened its doors like Vogue. Wintour’s decision to invite outside perspectives while also restructuring Vogue’s magazine production process is abnormal.  Sharing editorial power is an unprecedented — but important — jump for Vogue in an age of new designers.

Renowned fashion designer Marc Jacobs  has stepped up to the plate. Jacobs and Wintour plan to work together on every part of Vogue’s December 2024 issue — from the cover to the specific details about the designers that made it into the magazine.

Although Jacobs is one of the industry’s most respected designers due to the popularity of his brand, Wintour’s choice to elevate Jacobs is noteworthy. Plenty of fashion houses bring on guest designers, but none have done it like Vogue. 

In many situations, a celebrity designer is brought to a fashion house’s design team to spruce up the magazine. All within 2023, Louis Vuitton hired Pharrell Williams as the creative director for their menswear line, Dua Lipa worked with Donatella Versace on a new collection and Beyonce collaborated with Balmain. These celebrities are featured on the front page of the magazine, helping boost a magazine’s recognizability.  However all of these celebrities still report to the top of the corporate ladder — Jacobs is the top of the fashion food chain.

This is different from the experience Jacobs has had as guest editor. He’s been given the power to not only influence the issue’s general designs but also its specific details — including the layout and descriptions that elevate the designer to become memorable.

This power is comparable to the influence powerful executives regularly wield. Businessmen like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk lead multimedia companies similar in notoriety to Vogue. But unlike Wintour, these tycoons are quick to absorb power rather than give it up. While these businessmen continue to concentrate their power, Wintour has changed the narrative.

Jacobs is known as a rare breed for his ability to to capture new moods, according to The New York Times. The tides of the fashion industry are changing, and Jacobs is one of the best options to lead Vogue magazine due to his ability to produce era-defining pieces.

While Wintour is the tried and true leader of Vogue magazine, Jacobs represents a new era of fashion designers. 

December’s issue of Vogue will be decided by a new face. Both Jacobs and Wintour are established fashion personalities, but Jacobs’ leadership style provides a fresh outlook on magazines and the creative platforms given to designers. In a gratifying turn of events, Jacobs will guide Vogue into a new era.