The September Issue Reviews

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Even if you have never considered yourself a person who is into fashion (aka fashionista/fashionisto) chances are you have heard of Anna Wintour. You have heard of her because of The Devil Wears Prada or you have read some article about the bosses from hell or the most powerful women in world. Even if you have never heard of her explicitly you have come across her is some way; you have seen Pixar's The Incredibles with a character based on her or your wearing something because she made it fashionable to do so. She's an icon. A caricature. A shorthand for success/evil/ambition/sunglass wearing indoors (delete as applicable). It's an amazing feat really for someone who essentially puts together a monthly shopping catalogue (however posh) read but not all that many people is so famous worldwide.

And while it's generally agreed she's very good at what she does it's also just assumed she's very good at it because she's an ice-maiden, bully-type rather than because she's a good journalist and great talent spotter who has managed to build and maintain (yes maintain) a team of people who are also very good at their jobs.

The September Issue is a fascinating documentary that follows the production of the September 2007 issue of the Vogue, which because the biggest, heaviest magazine ever published. The film crew were given unprecedented access to Anna Wintour and Vogue staff as they put together the magazine over the course of 6 or seven months in 2007.

You get a behind the scenes look at how it is all put together and while there are more than a few silly vapid moments and a few silly vapid people (this is after all fashion) what comes across more than anything else is that to a greater or lesser extent the magazine is put together by people who care passionately about their art the business of Vogue.

And a business it is. Each issue brings in tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue. What you get with The September Issue is a picture of a magazine that while it might operate in the flighty field of fashion is in fact a slick, well-oiled machine. And you get the impression it's like that because of Anna Wintour and is she wasn't there demanding of people the magazine would never get put together.

You don't have to be interested in fashion to enjoy this documentary (god knows I am not). It makes a very interesting insight into office dynamics and politics which will strike a chord with anyone who has ever sat behind a desk in the working lives. Great Fun.