What do you think about the fashion world? I find it elusive and alluring at the same time. Growing up in a small town in East Texas, sometimes it felt like Vogue was the only way to culture oneself. My best friend, Jason and I, would buy fashion magazines and flip through them while talking about how no one in Carthage understood us. We were really cute. I love those memories.
One of the perks of working from home is that I get to listen to documentaries during the day if I feel like it. I finally got a chance to watch (at) The September Issue on Netflix, and I was actually a little surprised at how honest of a film it was. I have always had a lot of respect for Anna Wintour, and found myself randomly taking notes whenever she spoke. Strong women are so captivating. Here is what I learned from Mrs. Wintour:
- Be direct. Very, very direct. Throughout the documentary, Anna’s opinions/thoughts/suggestions are constantly requested. I never once heard her say “um.” She was consistently decisive without being outwardly rude or judgmental.
- Move forward. Do not hinge yourself or your business on the past or “what has always been done.” Anna has constantly pushed Vogue towards the future. She understands that to be successful, you have to be current.
- Only give credit when it’s warranted. The walls at Vogue certainly aren’t wallpapered with gold stars. Anna’s opinion is highly valued (whether good or bad), but I don’t think anyone understands that value more than her. She does not toss compliments around, but does give credit when it’s due–making it that much more special.
- Don’t ever think you’ve got it all figured out. At one point in the documentary, Anna makes the comment that she has no idea what will be popular next or why the fashion world is the way it is. I was shocked by this honesty, I guess because I thought if anyone had it figured out, it was her. But she’s right. Once you start putting things in boxes, you lose sight of the big picture.
- Refine, refine, refine. The process behind getting an issue of Vogue to print is extraordinary. They work on it until the very last minute, constantly tweaking every single detail. I think this would drive me crazy (says the admitted perfectionist), but they get it right, and in the end that’s what matters.
Have you watched any good documentaries lately? What have you learned?
-Sarah