Wow. When I saw this documentary a few years ago, I hadn't taken a single magazine class. Watching it now, I have a completely different outlook.
I can't say I truly understand the role of a creative director any better than I did before, but it seems Coddinton's role is to show the Vogue staff what they could do and Anna Wintour's job is to rein that vision in.
From all the reviews we have read and from knowing and loving The Devil Wears Prada which used Wintour's reputation as the basis for their villian, it would be easy to dismiss the editor-in-chief's talent and vision. As someone who prefers to produce work rather than edit it I might have been the first to criticize her ruthless editing style back in the day. However, one thing I have learned in the past year is that it is important to feature the strongest work you have and you can't do that by including everything.
If a team is only as good as their weakest player then the art direction is only as good as its weakest visual, which is why dealing with the Anna Wintours of the world can be difficult, but oh so necessary.
While I agree with the critics that Grace Coddington comes out the lovable heroine, watching the film again after having more experience in the publishing world, I really have a new-found respect for what Wintour does. Not that I wouldn't be cranky too if she killed some of my most beloved spreads.
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