On Thursday, I finally stopped putting it off and watched The September Issue, the documentary surrounding Anna Wintour and her staff in creating the longest issue in Vogue history. Thought the documentary, however, it took many turns.

I too, like the creators started to feel myself falling for Grace Coddington and her work throughout the documentary. I found myself waiting for her scenes, and her shoots, and to see what she could curate for the magazine. I was drawn to her immense attention to detail, the fantastical effects of her photography, and even her ability to stand up and intimidate the Great Anna Wintour. 

Throughout the doc, even I was feeling the heat and the pressure during some of those tense moments like OH EMM GEEEEE… When the pictures from Sienna’s shoot came back to the main office and the tense music began to start and I started to see what product had come out, even I felt the underwhelming attitude that was coming from all the staff. 

I felt a little bit of vindication there though as well, as we saw how Anna had to reluctantly give Grace her props and extra editorial space, as she could not deny her talent, and lackluster results that came from the Rome shoot. 

It was also really fun seeing Andre Leon Talley in action and his larger than life attitude, he really made Vogue pop and his presence at Editor at Large is still very solely  missed. NowI’m kinda interested in reading his autobiography. 

Seeing a young Edward Enninful was actually so funny but also very cool. To see where he started, as a contributing editor, scared he was doing everything wrong, to being the titan that he became, as the revered Editor in Chief of British Vogue. 

Overall, I really think this documentary reaffirmed my feelings about American Vogue, especially in its relation to its other iterations around the world. For the photography – at least the cover shoots for the most part – I always find myself with lackluster feelings.

I think Anna is a SUPER SUPER genius when it came to knowing that the celebrity thing was coming especially seeing how the two world have blended into a creative and beautiful collaboration. 

SEE: Pharrell Williams Named Louis Vuitton Men’s Creative Director

SEE: Pharrell Taps Tyler, the Creator to Design a Collection for Louis Vuitton

BUTTTT I still believe that the concept of the “celebrity” overpowers that of the creative and inspirational feelings that an editorial can have. 

The juxtaposition between Grace’s shoots with her romantic feelings towards the industry bleeding through and the mundane-ness of the cover shoot was so apparent! 

The blend of fashion and celebrity and visuals can easily result in beautiful amalgamations, which can be seen when looking at other countries’ Vogue covers. I wonder if that is a representation of America, and what values citizens appreciate more than the other. 

I personally would love to see how American Vogue would’ve been transformed without its (I THINK) OVER emphasis on the celebrity. 

I also wonder how the same magazine would’ve looked if the issue was headed by Grace instead of Anna. Would there have been a more fantastical element to the cover shoot? The whole magazine in general. 

I imagine Grace’s approach as an editor in chief would have paralleled a career to one like Margaret Zhang. Both can be described for their immense attention to style, which can sometimes eclipse a their business mindset, in the same way that Zhang ended up being criticized for. At the end of the documentary Grace mentioned her willingness to even never see a celebrity in the magazine again, which is similar to the Margaret making headlines for overseeing multiple covers without sponsorship. 

But I don’t know, that’s just the thoughts that came through in my mind watching this documentary. Honestly, this really could’ve just been a letterboxd post. But oh well!