The Rumours That Won't Die:Is Carine Roitfeld ReallyTaking Over American Vogue?

First off, we have to say that we don't like to seriously comment on these things without some kind of confirmation, and yet it's just so entertaining to speculate about the future of Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Last month's buzz centered around the still somewhat hard to picture scenario of Russian Vogue EIC Aliona Doletskaya sailing in to take over. There are so many reasons why this would be unlikely that they're not even worth listing here, but now, according to no less a source than Gawker (we know, we know, but it's fun to talk about), French Vogue Editor Carine Roitfeld is said to be thisclose to finalizing a deal to move to New York and take over. How do we know this? Apparently she has been meeting in Paris with Condé Nast chief Si Newhouse. (Actually, our only firsthand contribution to all this is that we saw her tottering down Bleecker Street on her signature stilettos only a couple of weeks ago. At the time it didn't seem to mean much.)
A plausible scenario? From our point of view (which is admittedly, pretty far away), yes. After all, Roitfeld has become almost as much of an icon as La Wintour herself, has become an equally coveted front row presence, and has had the opportunity to forge relationships with designers, particularly American ones, that Ms. Doletskaya probably has not. Never mind the possibility that Ms. Roitfeld may have been meeting with Newhouse just because he is her boss. This is a much more amusing story if only because it so closely mirrors the subplot in "The Devil Wears Prada", but without the happy ending for Wintour. Really, how often do we get to see the figures portrayed in a roman à clef play out the story after it has been published and turned into a movie?!
The Vogue world is experiencing tough times right now. So is every other magazine, but Wintour's grand plans of expanding the Vogue brand through ancillary titles has failed, with both Men's Vogue and Vogue Living cut back to the point of near death.
Of course, Vogue has a long, indiscreet history of having its Editor In Chief unceremoniously shitcanned in a humiliating way. It happend to Diana Vreeland (whose predecessor, Jessica Daves presumably retired with dignity after 30 years). Her successor, Grace Mirabella famously heard on the evening news of her own firing after 16 years and replacement with Wintour. Of course, neither of those two accomplished ladies had the benefit of a whole internet buzzing about their professional (mis)fortunes for months on end before the axes fell.
Wintour is undoubtedly fully aware of the gossip, and our pure unsubstantiated speculation is that Newhouse will kick her upstairs, giving her lots more time to play tennis, a passion that often wins out over her actual job when New York Fashion Week coincides with the U.S. Open finals.
Wintour's savvy 20 year mangagement of Vogue as more of a brand than a magazine is no small accomplishment. Is she ready to accept a different role -Condé Nast Creative Director, the old Alexander Lieberman title perhaps? Will she possibly appear somewhere else? Wouldn't the prospect of a Routfeld helmed Vogue going head to head with a Wintour helmed competitor be entertaining? Should Glenda Bailey be worried over at Bazaar?
Gawker has Roitfeld taking over as soon as January 1, so if this is what's happening, we should be hearing soon. If so, what will happen to masthead stalwarts like André Leon Talley, Sally Singer and Grace Coddington?
Anna Wintour Said Replaced By French Counterpart (Gawker)

Comments

[Dealyzer]

Very interesting speculation. Thanks for the info!