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Ellen Cassidy
3 min read

Love, Marc: How Anna Wintour and Marc Jacobs Used Vogue to Defend Creativity in a Divided America


When Anna Wintour met with long-time friend and fashion powerhouse Marc Jacobs for one of their usual lunches at Balthazar in New York, he expected nothing out of the ordinary. That was until the moment she offered him one of the most challenging roles that Jacobs would take on: guest editor of American Vogue.


Source: Vogue.com


It appears Wintour, who has been the longstanding pioneer of American Vogue since taking the reins in 1988, could foresee the treacherous state in which the United States would be left in after the presidential election. Regardless of the outcome, Wintour suspected a divided America to emerge in the wake of the 5th of November. She was completely correct. Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States meant that the fashion world would suffer a heavy blow, seeing the crucial creativity and inclusivity of modern fashion undergoing a cultural shift towards conservatism. Wintour anticipated that the world of fashion would need uplifting, reassured that it would continue to thrive despite the adversity it now faced. Thus, the idea for a guest editorial issue of Vogue seemed appropriate.

Source: CNN.com


Considering their decades long friendship, it is no surprise that there is a deep mutual respect visible between Wintour and Jacobs. In her interview with The New York Times, Wintour explains that had Jacob’s refused her offer to be guest editor, she would have scrapped the idea entirely. This underscores Wintour’s profound connection to Jacobs, entrusting him as the first guest editor in American Vogue history—a role she believed no one else could adequately fill. In a similar way, after having accepted the position of guest editor, Jacobs’ first choice for the iconic cover was Wintour herself: "My first thought was to have Anna Wintour on the cover, but she flat-out refused. “Move on,” she insisted." (Vogue.com) Instead, the two settled on Kaia Gerber to grace the cover; model, actress, and daughter to iconic 80s and 90s supermodel Cindy Crawford.


Source: Vogue.com


And yet it remains unclear whether, despite her intention to inspire and uplift others, Wintour felt downtrodden within herself.  “I thought, it’s going to be a very emotional time,” she said in an interview with The New York Times. “I think we should all take a step back.” With the presidential election carrying significant implications for women’s rights, abortion rights, trans rights, and the creative industries, Wintour aptly acknowledged that these deeply divisive issues contributed to an undeniably difficult and uncertain time for the United States. Jacobs briefly touched on the difficulties when describing his issue as one about “dance as freedom and discipline and expression”. He continues to explain, “I did think about the timing of the issue and the election and that it could look like fiddling while Rome burns”. Whilst Jacobs was occupied by the thought of the deterioration of the fashion world, Wintour felt as though Jacob's issue of Vogue would be somewhat of a gift. Knowing that the election would be so central in all of the November news headlines, the importance of highlighting the steadfastness of the fashion world was immense.


Jacobs’ guest editor role for Vogue’s December issue carries a poignant undertone. With impeccable timing, Wintour crafts a subtle political statement—not by choosing sides, but by underscoring the enduring importance of fashion and art as vehicles for beauty, resilience, and expression. In an Instagram post, Kaia Gerber perfectly encapsulates this sentiment, thanking Jacobs for his ability to “create beauty with a sense of humor in a world that really needs it.” Similarly, Jacobs signs off his editor’s note with a heartfelt “Love, Marc,” a simple yet profound reminder of the strength of personal bonds and the transformative power of creativity. Through this collaboration, Wintour and Jacobs reaffirm that, even in times of political and cultural turmoil, creative freedom will always prevail.



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