From the Cutting Room Floor

I stood in line in front of Michigan Theater staring at a glass covered poster. The background was white and clean. A pair of dark sunglasses sat neatly atop a thick platform. Words in black and crimson typeface were organized into discrete pockets of space on the poster. I tried to make out the words behind the glass pane, but the cold night air made my eyes water. Before I could make my way closer to the poster it was my turn. “One ticket for ‘The September Issue’ please.”

The tag-line of the movie reads “Fashion is a religion. This is the Bible.” Though this may seem like a gross exaggeration, it is in fact the truth. Fashion is not only a form of artistic expression, but also a multi-billion dollar industry. Each issue of Vogue serves a forecast of sorts, determining the trends in business and retail that will affect the coming seasons. In fact to say it is anything but a holy text is an understatement. It is the golden standard of fashion and has catapulted the careers of many designers. But, you may ask, who is in charge of this revered publication? Her name is Anna Wintour and she is almost as legendary as the magazine which she runs.

The film “The September Issue” tries to uncover the mechanics of putting together the September issue (the biggest one of the year), while also introducing audiences to the people behind the publication. However, for ninety minutes, the documentary does not go beyond the surface with Wintour’s character and ultimately fails in shedding new light on her persona. Instead, the audience is treated to a constant parade of colorful clothes and even more colorful personalities. Though the larger than life Andre Leon Talley and witty Grace Coddington serve as consolation prizes for the audience, they both provide a window through which Ms. Wintour can be examined. However, this examination is purely professional rather than personal. The only scene where the audience gets a slight sense of  Wintour’s humanity is in the waning moments of the film. It is during those final moments where you see Wintour’s hard exterior crack as she describes her sibling’s negative attitudes towards her and her work. It is then that the audience starts to feel sorry for her and begin to see an almost insecure shadow of Wintour. However, this fleeting scene unfortunately does not make up for the 85 minutes spent recording the same chaotic scenarios of botched photo shoots and mismatched clothing.

To be honest, I was thoroughly disappointed in the execution of this film and left the theater wanting more. Though the movie achieved the easy goal of elucidating the process of publishing, it did not delve into the most interesting part of the fashion industry- the people, more specifically, Anna Wintour. As a fan of Vogue, I would have loved to learn more about the woman in charge and her own personal thoughts on the industry rather than witnessing her formulaic display of professionalism. However, I do believe that any fan of fashion and art would find parts of this film highly entertaining. If you end up checking out this movie let me know what you think in the comments section below. Have a great week!

P.S Check out the trailer here