Anna Wintour talks courtside fashion, her passions and reveals the permanent reminders she is set to leave Melbourne
Even a worldwide fashion icon like Anna Wintour can be conned by Melbourne’s unpredictable weather, with the Vogue editor and close friend of Roger Federer and Serena Williams claiming she hasn’t “packed the right things” for her courtside sessions at the Aus Open.
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Defying her “Devil Wears Prada” persona, Vogue US chief Anna Wintour was affable and passionate about fashion and tennis in her first interview since arriving in Melbourne today.
An avid tennis fan and close friend of Roger Federer and Serena Williams, Wintour is in Melbourne primarily on a private visit as a guest of Tennis Australia, and has sat courtside for every day and night session since she arrived.
“It seems to be a universal passion here which is lovely to see if you are as passionate about the sport as I am,” she says.
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Her wardrobe choices have been as closely watched as the action on the court, yesterday sporting Prada and trademark Chanel sunglasses.
“My niece told me it’s going to be 100 degrees so I bought a lot of sleeveless dresses and it’s actually been chilly, so I’m not sure I packed the right things, but it’s been fun and wonderful to be here,” she says.
The fashion icon confirmed she will leave a permanent reminder of her trip to Melbourne, donating the stunning sequined haute couture Chanel gown she wore to the 2008 MET gala to the NGV in addition to the classic Chanel suit already reported.
“It is an incredible Chanel piece that I wore to the opening of the Superheroes (2008 theme). I liked the boldness of it and the power of it.”
“I chose a white Chanel suit because I’m a great Chanel fan. It’s a totally classic cream coloured suit that I’ve worn to many different occasions, I love the simplicity and the chicness of it,” she says.
“I think a Chanel suit is probably the most iconic piece of clothing a woman can hope to own so I hope that is something the museum will enjoy having.”
While disappointed to see Federer lose in the fourth round, Wintour had hoped to see Williams go all the way.
“She’s super focused and in very good shape, mentally strong. She’s one of my co-chairs for the Met this year and we’ve been talking a bit about what she might wear and she is certainly going to make a statement.”
Wintour is set to headline the AO Inspirational Series lunch on Thursday with a 15-minute speech before an audience including Julie Bishop, Rosie Batty, Stephanie Gilmore, Alan Joyce and Eddie McGuire, as well as fashion designers Carla Zampatti, Bianca Spender and Rebecca Vallance.
“I’m going to talk a little bit about leadership and my love of tennis obviously, and my gratitude for being here, and a little bit about how I feel about women in today’s world,” she says.
Aussie director Baz Luhrmann will introduce her at the lunch and then interview her in an exclusive private Q&A at the NGV tomorrow morning hosted by Vogue Australia Editor in Chief Edwina McCann and NGV director Tony Ellwood.
Wintour will then go on to meet and view the work of 11 local designers selected by Vogue Australia and the Australian Fashion Council.
Her advice to the emerging talent will be to not get carried away with being famous and relying on social media to make them successful.
“I think its important today not to get too carried away with becoming famous. Just because you have x amount of followers on your Instagram account doesn’t necessarily mean you have arrived,” she says.
“I think sometimes young designers are a little bit too much in a hurry to launch their own labels where they might be better advised to work for someone who’s work they admire and learn their way around a business.
“And I also think it’s super important to connect with someone who can really help them with strategy and a business plan.”
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