The September Issue

Posted by Carolyn

on August 21, 2009

Last night I was invited to a special director’s screening of the most anticipated fashion film of the season- The September Issue. Having watched the trailers on repeat multiple times in a row, I was very eager to see what promised to be an intimate look at a very mysterious industry.

What I loved most about the film is that it so realistically and genuinely depicts the fashion industry as it is. Everything from the extravagance to the nitty gritty bitch work are things that I’ve personally observed or am aware of. In that regard, Cutler has done an amazing job of preserving the true flavor of the business. This is not The Devil Wears Prada. Quite the opposite in fact, as for most of the documentary, the Vogue editors look exhausted and somewhat unkempt. The glitz and the glamour take a back seat to a solid look at the business of fashion and the art of fashion. Some people will find this refreshing and for the same reason, some will leave the film feeling very unsatisfied.

I personally liked Anna Wintour in the movie. She is, first and foremost, a business woman tasked with the job of making the magazine as profitable as she can. I didn’t find her particularly cold as much as constantly focused as the task on hand. Despite being at the center of the pomp and circumstance of the fashion industry, I found that Wintour seems to have a perfectly clear sense of the perceived frivolous nature of her business, saying that her family must find her career “very amusing.” In the beginning of the film, Wintour states that just because one prefers a Carolina Herrera dress or J Brand jeans to KMart, does not make her dumb. And furthermore, she feels that those who mock fashion do so because they do not feel included. Both sentiments that I also strongly agree with.

The true star of the film is Grace Coddington, Vogue’s creative director, and who in the film is hailed as the “greatest stylist in the world.” Indeed, Coddington’s artistic eye and creative passion is what makes the documentary fascinating. She could make even the most jaded person believe that fashion is an art. It is easy to see that Coddington does not view fashion in shallow terms of celebrities or looking good or buying expensive things- but rather as a means to bring together textiles and visuals, photography, emotions and characters to weave together that complex form of art that resides within her pages. And she is also hilarious, giving me the most chuckles during the film.

There there is Andre Leon Talley, Anna’s editor at large, who I am sure is a huge creative force behind Vogue, but sadly his character and work are almost entirely left out of the film. Instead, he seems to make cameo appearances for the comedy factor, as you see him do little more than lug a multiple piece Louis Vuitton set to the tennis courts and sloppily whack a few balls with a huge LV towel draped around his neck. ALT, who I find often shares such intelligent insight in his columns and who was the force behind the Michelle Obama interview, was sadly reduced to some kind of caricature, exemplifying what most people find so ridiculous about the industry.

I don’t want to give away too much more- so be sure to catch the movie yourself! The September Issue opens in New York on August 28, and nationwide on September 11.