La Belle Vie: Movie to Watch: The September Issue

"I think what i often see it that people are frighteened about fashion. Because it scares them or make them feel insecure they just put it down. On the whole people that may say, the meanny things about our world I think that's usually because they feel, in some ways, excluded or, you know, not a part of 'the cool group' so as a result they just mock it".--Anna Wintour

I have been wanting to see this film for what felt like ages so I finally made a point to watch it when I saw that it was on Netflix Instant. Boy am I glad I did. For those of us who are intrigued with the fashion world, this will be sure to at least temporarily satisfy your cravings for couture and everything that has to do with it. Lately the idea of working for a top fashion magazine in New York City has been really appealing to me and I have been looking into several internships for potential opportunities. So I thought it would be an appropriate time to watch a documentary that takes you behind the scenes of the bible of all fashion magazines: Vogue. I consider Vogue's one-of-a-kind fashion spreads to be works of art and would absolutely love to be a fly on the wall through the entire process, from the original idea to the printing press. Right now, The September Issue is as close as I am going to get, and I soaked up every minute of it.

Anna Wintour is the legendary editor in chief of the American Vogue and rules the magazine as if it were her kingdom. In a certain aspect, it is her kingdom, and everyone else working for the magazine are her subjects. What Anna says, goes, and quite often goes to the cutting room floor. The film shows the incredible amount of money and effort it takes to create the September issue, the largest issue of the year, and in the film (which takes place in 2007) they are creating the largest issue to date. Grace Coddington, a former model with Vogue (who ended her career after a car accident which left her needing extensive plastic surgery) and creative director of the magazine pours so much effort and into every fashion shoot and on several occasions becomes too passionate about her work to resist standing up to Anna in an effort to save it from the cutting room floor. One photo in particular was casually vetoed by Anna which left Grace absolutely devastated. The picture is hauntingly beautiful and painstakingly detailed and elaborate. By turning it down, Anna loses the company a good 50,000 dollars. That is the power that she holds at her fingertips. Often called "the ice queen," Anna is inspiration for Meryl Streep's character in The Devil Wears Prada. Though they both hold many similarities, in my view, Anna is a bit softer than Miranda Priestly in Prada...a bit. The film takes you to Rome where Sienna Miller, September's cover girl, is shot, and Paris, the fashion capital. If you're a fashion maven, or just immensely enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, I reccomend giving The September Issue a try. I guarantee, you'll never look at an issue of Vogue the same again.