Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington

The True Star Of Fashion Documentary - The September Issue

Oct 22, 2009

Grace Coddington is American Vogue editor Anna Wintour's right hand woman and regarded as one of the best fashion stylists in the industry.

The September Issue (2009) followed the staff of American Vogue as they created the September 2007 issue of the magazine. It was touted as editor Anna Wintour’s documentary, however her thunder was stolen as the film positively showcased another member of the Vogue staff, British born creative director Grace Coddington.

Model Beginnings

Born in 1941 and originally hailing from North Wales in Great Britain, Grace Coddington ignited her passion for clothes and fashion as a teenager, when she religiously devoured the pages of Vogue magazine. She entered one of their ‘find a new model’ competitions and with her ethereal looks and flame-red hair, won it aged 18, thus kick-starting her modeling career. She moved to London in the 1960’s to pursue her ambition and worked with all the great photographers of the time, including David Bailey.

Vogue Magazine

Coddington's modeling career was cut short after she was involved in a car accident, resulting in her having reconstructive surgery to her face. Her natural love of fashion and experience in the industry meant Coddington did not want to leave, so she took a job as junior fashion editor on British Vogue and turned her skills to creating amazing photographs rather than starring in them. She worked at British Vogue for 19-years, then briefly worked as creative director for Calvin Klein before moving to American Vogue.

The September Issue

Grace Coddington started at American Vogue on the same day in 1988 as fellow Brit Anna Wintour. Coddington was hired as fashion director of the magazine and eventually moved her way up to the post of creative director in 1995. After working together with Wintour for over 20-years, Coddington is known to be one of the only people in the industry who stands up to the notoriously frosty and stubborn Wintour and their almost sibling like bickering is captured in the documentary, Coddington says, "We argue like crazy, but I think she respects me, and I certainly respect her."

Given Wintour's powerful presence in the industry, it was no surprise that the film was promoted as being all about her. However, it is Coddington who charms the audience with her skill and old-school respectful dedication to the job. Positive reviews of her in the documentary include from the Associated Press, who say, "Coddington seems to pump passion and artistic integrity into the pages while not being swept up in the celebrity frenzy that seems synonymous with fashion these days."

Personal Achievements

Grace Coddington styles a majority of the shoots in American Vogue and is extremely well regarded within the industry as a fashion stylist. In 2002 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, recognising her contribution to the industry.

In her personal life she was briefly married to restaurateur (owner of the Mr.Chow chain) Michael Chow for a year in 1968, then embarked on a second marriage in 1976 to photographer William Christie, which lasted until 1979. Although she has not married again, she has been in a relationship with hairstylist Didier Malige for the past 20-years.

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