Vogue and Anna Wintour are almost synonymous these days, with the Met Gala not far behind. But how did these things come to be? This new Hulu documentary takes a look at the rise of Wintour at the Conde Nast publication, and chronicles how her eye helped shape some of the most iconic moments in fashion history.
IN VOGUE – THE 90s: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
Opening Shot: Overhead shots of the NYC landscape and skyline arrive at one particular building: the Vogue offices.
The Gist: This docuseries recounts the âdecade of changeâ for the fashion industry: the 1990s. Starting with Anna Wintourâs appointment to editor of Vogue, the 6-part series focuses on various different touchpoints of the â90s including the fusion of high fashion and pop culture, the supermodel era, and the rise of the Met Gala, and features interviews with big names in fashion, magazines, and culture.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? For a slightly more narrow view of the â90s, Apple TVâs The Super Models documentary recounts the rise and careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. There’s also The September Issue, a 2009 feature-length documentary about the magazine’s most influential issue year-in and year-out.
Our Take: For as long as Iâve been conscious of pop culture and fashion, one name has always been associated with highbrow fashion: Vogue. And Anna Wintourâs name always follows close behind as the arbiter of whatâs in and whatâs out each season. Huluâs In Vogue: The 90s hones in on the decade in which Wintour got her start when she was recruited from across the pond to helm American Vogue, a position she took and ran with as she pushed the magazine into a new era.
Given her outsized impact on the magazine, the docuseries could easily be seen as a trojan horse documentary of Wintour herself. The first episode certainly reads as such, chronicling her big decisions that stamped her name in the history books, like putting Madonna on the cover and gathering her fashion designer friends for a large AIDS fundraiser. But the series promises to do so much more in future episodes, including showcasing the counterculture movement, the renewed partnership between Hollywood and high fashion, and the impact of hip-hop and Black culture on fashion.
It should be noted that Wintour and many of the other Vogue-associated editors that appear in the series are also listed as executive producers, no doubt shaping the narrative that is unfolding. In that, itâs important to realize that, while itâs commonly understood that Vogue and Wintour are major players in the fashion world, the stories that are unfolding are likely shying away from any blemishes or unflattering portraits of themselves from the time.
Still, the series is committed to covering the breadth of a turning point in fashion history and does so with the aid of so many interesting talking heads, including supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, actors like Nicole Kidman and Sarah Jessica Parker, fashion moguls like Tom Ford and John Galliano, and pop culture figures like Kim Kardashian. For any fashion lover, this is a must-watch.
Sex and Skin: Thereâs plenty of skin in the at-times risque high fashion scene of the â90s, but no sex outside of the inherent sex appeal of the adverts of the time.
Parting Shot: A preview of a changing tide in fashion, which will take center stage in the docuseriesâs second episode, ends with Kate Moss recounting a memory of Anna Wintour unable to get into a show.
Sleeper Star: Wintour is front and center, but this intimate look at her rise makes her a more endearing figure than her cold haircut and mysterious sunglasses often offer.
Most Pilot-y Line:: âIt was the decade that turned the fashion industry upside down,â a voiceover says introducing the topic of the docuseries. âThat decade changed everything,â Edward Enninful adds, who is now the editor-in-chief of British Vogue.
Our Call: STREAM IT. This all-access look at a turning point in fashion history is a treat for any pop culture enthusiast.
Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Paste Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vulture and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.
The post Stream It Or Skip It: ‘In Vogue: The 90s’ on Hulu, A Look At A Defining Decade in Fashion History and the Magazine That Helped Shape It appeared first on Decider.
