Anna Wintour Runs The Fashion Industry; Her Words of Wisdom

Last week, the English editor-in-chief of American Vogue and artistic director for Conde Nast (Vogue‘s publisher), Anna Wintour sat down with Vogue‘s new international editor Suzy Menkes for an candid interview in front of an audience of young fashion student (designers and journalists)  at Central Saint Martins in London.

It’s no secret that Wintour gives precise and direct instructions, but she also gives some damn good advice. While there, she discussed the importance of thinking with the business side of your brain, fame, long-term success, having a mentor, and she also gave some thoughts on red carpets. Quotes and highlights below:

Work first, and then build your business.

I do think there is a tradition in England that you can do anything with nothing. The only thing I worry a little bit about—going straight from school to starting your own business—is that not many succeed.

…because you’ve gotta start somewhere.

Go get a job. Whether it’s working as a designer or working in a restaurant and then doing your own thing in your own time, it’s a reality of life. In the end, it’s going to be helpful to you and so many others.

Aim for long-term success, not instantaneous fame.

It’s possible in today’s world to be instantly famous, whether it’s through Instagram or whatever platform it may be, but it’s a very different matter to be successful financially and in the long term.

Get yourself a mentor.

It’s important to have someone to talk to and discuss everything with and bounce ideas off.

Whatever you do, don’t be shy.

How [people] present themselves publicly is important. In today’s world, you have to interact. You can’t really be some difficult, shy person who is not able to look somebody in the face: you have to present yourself. You have to know how to talk about your vision, your focus and what you believe in. If you can’t be passionate about who you are and what you are doing, how can [your audience] be?

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Photos Credit: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images North America

Quotes/Highlights via Glam