For decades, millions of women around the US have turned to Vogue magazine and its longtime editor, Anna Wintour, for advice on what to wear.
It sounds like Hillary Clinton has been doing the same of late, in a more direct sort of way. According to Business of Fashion, Wintour has been advising Clinton on her wardrobe throughout her campaign to become the first female president of the US.
Vogue wouldn’t comment on the report and we haven’t heard back yet from the campaign. But if Wintour is indeed working with Clinton, she hasn’t been taking the candidate too far outside her comfort zone. Most of her style choices have entailed brightly colored pantsuits. The difference is in how polished the look is now. Exhibit A: the white pantsuit Clinton wore to the Democratic National Convention on July 28, a brilliant choice that recalled more than a century of feminist history in the US.
Wintour is a well-known supporter of Clinton’s, and has been a fundraising force for the Democrats. Earlier this year, for instance, the New York Times reported (paywall) that Wintour helped organize a couple of Clinton fundraising events, drawing guests including Christopher Bailey of Burberry and Tom Ford, in the days between the London and Milan fashion weeks.
Wintour is a powerful ally not just for her ability to bring out wealthy patrons. She’s got an unerring sense of style. That’s an especially valuable contribution to a candidate like Clinton, who faces far more scrutiny for her clothing choices than men in a similar position face. Just look at how funny it seems to talk about Bill Clinton’s fetching pantsuits, or how even Project Runway host Tim Gunn has criticized Clinton’s fashion choices. Undoubtedly any advice Wintour could offer would be welcomed by the campaign.
Clinton, however, needs no help securing the vote of the fashion industry in the US. Designers and retailers from Marc Jacobs to Urban Outfitters have made it clear they’re with her.