It has been announced that Edward Enninful, current creative and fashion director of W magazine, will be replacing Alexandra Shulman as editor-in-chief of British Vogue. He will be the first man and the first black editor to take the helm at Britain's most powerful fashion publication in its 100 year history.
Enninful is an already acclaimed fashion director, editor and former stylist who has previously worked for the likes of i-D, Italian Vogue and American Vogue. In his most recent role at W, he is credited for bringing a more conceptualised, quirky and narrative-driven aesthetic that helped buoy declining advertising interest, according to The New York Times.
His appointment has been met with approval and praise from many industry peers, including photographer Nick Knight who told WWD: “I think it’s something that should’ve happened a long time ago in many respects but of course it’s good it’s happening now. I think Edward will bring a very new feel to the magazine and fashion is about change and this is indeed a big change. Edward is a very lovely man in so much that he’s very caring of people around him.”
Vanity Fair contributing editor Elizabeth Saltzman has a similar sentiment: “I have been literally campaigning for this — I am so excited," she told WWD. "I believe that he hears a lot of women’s voices… He’s so smart and well-educated and well-read and just always looking for news and information and giving people a shot. I just think that he’ll make it as current as it can be and relevant to today’s taste.”
Sources have said that the race to succeed Shulman eventually came down to Enninful and Love magazine editor Katie Grand. There's been no word on who will succeed Enninful at W as yet.
The appointment comes after three months after another man, Emanuele Farneti, took the help at Italian Vogue following the death of Franca Sozzani.
