Grace Coddington
"Every billboard, fashion magazine spread, every advertisement we see today has been influenced by Grace Coddington.", RJ Cutler, director of The September Issue, on Grace Coddington.
Grace Coddington is the creative director-at-large for Vogue America. Formerly a young British Vogue model and Creative Director of American Vogue. Coddington grew up in a small town in Welsh where her only access to high fashion was through Vogue. Which then kickstarted her dreams of being a model. Having entered modelling school, her photos were submitted for Vogue's young models competition. Coddington won and was offered a role as a young model at Vogue. With her fiery red hair and high cheekbones, she was adored by many in the fashion industry. Hence, Coddington quickly rose to fame. Unfortunately, that period was shortlived. Coddington met with a tragic accident at the young age of 26 and had to undergo 2 years of constructive surgery – bringing her modelling career to an end.
Moving past her misfortune, Coddington pursued the fashion career once again. This time as a junior fashion editor at British Vogue. Thus, beginning her journey as she takes the fashion world by storm. As a model, Coddington thrived in an era where models styled themselves. Hence, aiding her in creating wonderful editorials for Vogue. Starting in British Vogue, Coddington steadily rose in ranks and became a senior fashion editor. Looking for a change, she became the Design Director for Calvin Klein where Klein claimed that Coddington "was the first European fashion editor to fully appreciate American design." Thereafter, she was asked by Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, to join as Creative Director as Wintour felt that "her vision was and is very close to mine." Coddington's impact in the fashion industry was forged deeply during her time as Creative Director in American Vogue. It was through American Vogue where she truly brought her fantasies to life through her editorials, enchanting readers globally. Her creative vision is how she got to be one of the most respected people in the fashion industry. Despite being in her glorious 70s now, Coddington is still greatly relevant in the fashion industry today. Being greatly respected by fashion people all around the world and of all ages, Coddington remains as relevant as she was decades ago. With aspiring fashion creatives and enthusiasts admiring and following her path in rising to the top of the industry. Coddington was a visionary whom everyone would love to learn from. With relevance comes influence. Through her masterpieces of editorials, she brought the featured garments to the next level. Raising the appeal of the pieces with each spread, thus influencing readers in purchasing the apparels. Coddington's eye for the unorthodox was what made her who she is today. For example her project for Tiffany & Co., she changed the whole direction of what Tiffany & Co. has always stuck to whilst never veering from the essence of Tiffany & Co. Coddington brought in celebrities instead of just models. She did headshots instead of showing a romantic scene. It allowed Tiffany & Co. to appeal to a more current and modern audience – bringing Tiffany & Co. back into relevance. Grace Coddington charmed the global readers of Vogue and the world with her projects – a figure that we should all look up to and learn from.