Can we talk about The September Issue again?

Last night I meant to only START watching "The September Issue" on Netflix. Instead, I was sucked into the entire 1.5 hours. I then searched YLF and reread old posts about this documentary. Now I want to talk about it with y'all. (yep, this northerner just used "y'all")

A few observations, in no particular order:

1) I was surprised by how subdued Anna Wintour seemed. And her lack of eye contact when speaking to the camera. The woman came across as sad. Her daughter tried, but failed, to articulate why she's not following Anna's footsteps into fashion without devaluing her mother's life's work.

2) The obsequiousness of the designers to her was bizarre. The one designer giggling nervously and apologizing for his lack of color as she barely stays interested and stares off out the window ...

3) The photographer who shot the September 2007 cover, Mario, was an idiot. He was the stereotypical vain, arrogant "artiste" to a T. It was clear that he "mailed it in," so to speak, with his work on the Sienna Miller shoot, but no one actually came out and said that.

4) So much unspoken tension, except where Grace Coddington was concerned. She told it like it is (was) to the camera. Everyone else piled these half-hearted platitudes on Anna's genius and success for the camera, but never expressed disapproval or dissatisfaction. But there was no enthusiasm either. Grace was complimentary, but didn't hold back on where the friction was.

5) Where Grace DID hold back, much to my surprise, was with Anna to her face. We never saw her directly confront Anna about photos being pulled, etc. I wanted her to make some comment in that elevator ride up to visit Jean Paul Gaultier (such awkward silence!). Apparently, her preferred method of retribution was to bring up her budget in front of the cameras and then nix any Photoshopping in the end. What a dysfunctional world. So much ego preservation!

6) Anna's description of her siblings, their occupations and how they're "amused" by hers. Painful. The silences during that bit! I didn't expect to see such a vulnerable side of Anna Wintour.

Okay, I've gotten that out of my system.

ETA: One last thing - aside from Anna and the young Anna wanna-be's at Vogue, the senior staff were not inspirational dressers. And I couldn't believe Grace used to be a model. I just wanted to dump about a million hot oil treatments on her head.

11 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

Very interesting observations. I think I agree with most although admit I did not get this analytical about it. I enjoyed it in a voyeur manner. Loved Grace although agree on the hair treatment.
I am always surprised to see "fashion business" people looking less than fashionable at work (although it makes more sense) I think today there is much more exposure of the fashion "elite" that they cannot get away with not being as glamorous as they tell us to be. I think the pressure must be enormous for them to "walk the walk". Back then (yes it's only a few years ago) less blogs or paparazzi getting every move they made. People could have an off day in peace.

Jenava

(website)

I love Grace esp. in that movie. I think there's a book about her. She is a little kooky, I think, which might just go along with being creative.

Isabel

I was a bit disappointed in the movie because I was very interested in seeing how Wintour worked. Instead, she spent most of her time with her hands and arm around her waist as if she had a stomach ache. She was sooooo closed off. Victoria Beckham comes across that way. Almost as if they are painfully shy. It was uncomfortable to me. I had to wonder if she has some affect disorder....like on the autism spectrum. This would also tie into her having the same haircut since she was 16 ( or 14 ). She is obviously competent and can be rather unpleasant very often, but her affect is off. And that , to me, made the documentary ineffectual. She is Vogue. Or maybe she isn't....maybe Grace is.

LOVED Grace.

Deborah

Interesting observations. I should disclose first up, that I am a big fan of Anna Wintour:)

I think that even though this movie was touted as a documentary, I am not convinced that it wasn't carefully 'manufactured'. I have always seen Anna as a clever woman, with a million things racing through her mind at once, thus often making her appear unconnected and disengaged at times. I have worked with people like this:)

Grace was a beautiful model and I think a car accident ended that part of her career? I still find her quite beautiful in an unconvenial way. I admire the fact that she clearly doesn't feel the need to conform and be something she is not.

I am also fascinated by her relationship with Anna. As I understand it they have worked together for many years and Anna took Grace with her when she started at Vogue. I don't doubt in private they share they opinions and thoughts quite freely. I think both women have enorous respect for one another.

Its funny how we perceive things, I didn't sense tension and I think it would have been inappropriate for staff to speak negatively about their boss:)

Interesting comment about Anna's daughter. Funny but if you look on line, her daughter seems to accompany her to a multitude of fashion events, wearing fabulous outfits... not totally shunning mummy's career choice?!

And I cannot imagine the pressure of working for Vogue and the expectation to look fabulous every day.

Its a great movie, I confess that I could watch it over and over

Debora

I'm so glad you started this thread, Anne! This documentary has been on my must-see list for ages, and I need to get around to watching it. An interesting side note, my daughter actually came face to face with her several years back at Fashion Week. Anna was outside a tent waiting to go in. Very aloof, and all by herself with no entourage. I wonder if Angie has ever crossed paths with her at FW?

Marley

I loved this documentary and actually paid to see it in the movie theater twice when it was first released. Since then, I've watched the DVD several times. I didn't pick up on all of the tension that you describe.

I felt sad for Anna as she talked about her siblings and how they view her "occupation." I think that her job has got to be a lonely one - and I would think that part of the reason she comes across as distant is because of the pressure on her. Every single photographer, artistic director, etc. who has done work for the issue is going to be pulling for their work to be selected - and she's the one that has to make those decisions, knowing full well how it is going to affect the people who've submitted the work for her approval. That would be difficult!

I've seen a lot of pics of Grace Coddington as a model - she was stunning. She truly has a unique look now!

April

I was more fascinated by the fact that my teen son and pre-teen nephew wandered in and found the movie compelling. To put it mildly, they are not fashion guys, but something about the process of putting out a magazine had them riveted.

Tim Gunn has written some fairly scathing anecdotal accounts of the Vogue staff's behavior. He feels they embody a level of entitlement, extravagance, and waste that is out of touch with the modern fashion world.

Interesting variety of views on the movie. I do think Anna's relentless pursuit of her vision would be interpreted somewhat differently if she were male. And let's face it, if she were male, she'd be doing her job without having to look fabulous every day.

Also, she'd probably feel free to eat more.

April, excellent point. Men rarely encounter the kind of scrutiny and criticism that woman do (in business).

teeandcee

Active Member

I too got totally sucked into this documentary when on a whim I streamed it last year. In fact, I watched it a couple of times and even bought some of the music off iTunes.

I was amused and amazed at all the fawning the designers did with Anna. It was so uncomfortable to watch along with all the tension throughout. Whether is was manufactured or not, I don't know, but I got the feeling Anna is quite the terror once the cameras stopped rolling.

Having said that, I felt kind of sorry for her. She has so very much and came across as so emotionally stunted and sad, although that's a good point whoever suggested an autism spectrum disorder. Her affect certainly is off.

I don't know if her family is as judgmental as she perceives, but if so she should just tell them to kiss off. Without $$ charities and good works would go nowhere. If Anna gives to charities she's just as "worthy" as her siblings. You don't have to literally be digging ditches to do great good. Yeesh.

Loved...adored...Grace's shoots! And she's a cat lover so that makes me a big fan.

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