Women whose style we admire: Chioma Nnadi (the new head of British Vogue)
All photos by Acielle at Style du Monde
It always takes a few months for a new editor to make their mark on a magazine – while deadlines are a lot closer to publication these days (because of online and the quest for newness) – there will be features already lined up and fashion shoots inherited from a predecessor. Chioma Nnadi, the new Vogue ‘head of editorial content’ is a journalist who started out on ES magazine, then moved to New York where she worked for Anna Wintour editing the American Vogue website. Discussing her new role on Instagram, the 44-year-old thanked all her mentors and said:
‘Success only comes with support and I’m so grateful to have that. I only hope that I can give the kind of encouragement to others that was given to me.’
We like her style.
Chioma Nnadi’s first editor’s letter highlights her love of people-watching, and how as a teenager in London she’d sit outside Central Saint Martins on Charing Cross Road to admire the students’ eclectic outfits, created using ‘vintage finds from car boot sales and Portobello Road Market’, as opposed to designer brands. And Nnadi often mixes vintage and modern in her own wardrobe. She’s great at layering and accessorising, and putting unexpected pieces together.
I’m looking forward to seeing where she takes Vogue magazine. Edward Enninful certainly moved things on in terms of diversity but he comes from a stylist background, and so I’m hoping that the writing will become a focus again. My initial thoughts on the inaugural issue are mixed – but turning the page takes time. I’m not a fan of the FKA Twigs cover, this type of photography leaves me cold; I much prefer the joyful images accompanying the feature on Ayo Edebiri.
And, with Nnadi’s emphasis on vintage and mixing things up, I hope the More Dash Than Cash feature makes a comeback…
Discussion (20 Comments)
Sara says:
Hear, hear, Alyson. More Dash than Cash, yes please. Hopefully, no more of the awful airbrushing of the older models that you commented so well on and which really made me wonder whether to cancel my subscription. I didn’t, but it seems to hang in the balance regularly; I’m not altogether sure what I get from this magazine; I’m unlikely ever to wear anything it shows and many of the articles are about people and subjects that have little relevance to the lives lived by the vast majority of women. Escapism is fine, but I’m increasingly thinking this is (and always has been?) far more about naked consumerism. Think I’m talking myself into a subscription cancellation. On the other hand…….. I do like the individual style of Chioma Nnadi, especially in the second photo, so perhaps I’ll again wait a couple of issues.
Sarah says:
I couldnt agree more about MDTC, although I don’t buy Vogue anymore. I seem to have been edited out, too old and too poor. She looks terrific and I love her natural hair.
Bev says:
Yesss! More Dash Than Cash being brought back is an excellent idea – I used to love it and it’s more current now than ever. Chioma Nnadi appears wonderfully cool, individual and herself. I might just splash the cash and have a look at this month’s Vogue although far to expensive to buy on a regular basis. (Even the doctor’s and dentists surgeries don’t have them anymore – hmmm – we don’t REALLY have doctors or dentists either, but that is another post!!!)
Mrs Tonia says:
Good to read this Alyson. I’m a big fan of More Dash than Cash overall. I’m old enough to remember that feature. And to follow that idea : discount buys. Sale watching. Recycling of older good garments in my wardrobe with careful new purchases to refresh the general look.
With regards British Vogue if that’s what it’s called now I did purchase issues of the magazine under Edward Enninful. Indeed I did buy his autobiography when I spotted it on shelf in paperback at a Literary festival. Mostly the issues were available for £2 a copy in local newsagent. Last week or so I got the newest edition at that price. I like the style of the new editor also. A mixture of high designer pieces and low be it vintage or high street buys.
She’s younger and funkier and British before working in New York.
Hard times for magazine fashion journalism in print. However I much prefer to handle paper look at the photos read the articles. Web versions seem very boring. Only exception French Elle which I subscribe to online. Keeps up the language, informs and pretty good at how to tweak one’s outfits.
My favourite magazine now is Grazia. Meant for a younger demographic but a relaxing read nevertheless.Liz says:
Wow, every look here is going onto my inspiration board. I’ll have to hunt down British Vogue at the bookstore to watch how things evolve under her leadership.
M bremmers says:
I stopped buying Vogue when Enninfil became editor. I missed the intellectual and insightful articles, accessible fashion, plus he took diversity to the extremes. I have high hopes for the new team.
Rach with an E says:
I’vee just taken about 30 Vogue magazines to the charity shop, issues from 2019 to 2024. I know they’ve always been a bit of fantasy, but I’ve not been a fan for some years. Yes, Enninful changed things up – all good – but the increasing amount of advertising and people who are irrelevant to me means I am .no longer a subscriber.
HJWilkes says:
Don’t forget to SHOP in your local charity shop too! I volunteer in one in London and we have top quality items. The greatest thing from a wardrobe point of view is finding something you love, saved from landfill … and unique to your style. When you want another retail fix, just redonate it. Save money, be stylish and be yourself. You’re also helping someone somewhere in the world in real need. Win win.
Jayne says:
My local library in Hertfordshire always has up to date copies of Vogue and many other magazines to borrow.
Sue says:
I agree wholeheartedly with Sara. I have taken Vogue for the last sixty years and it has become increasingly irrelevant to my wardrobe and my purse. Vogue used to be two years ahead of the current fashion and it was exciting to see the trends and the colours that were featured. The current fashion photography is beautiful but doesn’t show the clothes clearly. Sadly it’s only nostalgia and loyalty that keep me subscribing.
corinne clemson says:
I like her look…is she a petite woman? As under 5ft myself I’m always looking for style suggestions for us littlies.
Sarah P says:
I googled but still couldn’t find an answer about her height. Like you I’m always keen to find stylish women who are petite. According to NHS data the average height of a woman in the UK in 2021 was 162.5cm or 5 ft 4. One standard deviation in height for women is around 6.3cm (2.5 inches). Virtually all fashion models (though Kate Moss is one exception) are at least 2 standard deviations taller than the average woman, plus they tend to be unhealthily skinny, so the body geometry is so different that it is utterly unrepresentative of how clothes look on basically any woman that I or you will ever meet. For some reason this is an one aspect of fashion “diversity” that never gets mentioned.
Claire says:
If you find pictures of her next to someone else, it looks like she is on the taller side of average. Sorry!
Cindy from Canada says:
I used to read American Vogue for years – to get inspiration on what the latest styles/trends were. Now, I rely on wonderful blogs like THAT’S NOT MY AGE to find out what is new and exciting.
Completely agree with you that the Ayo Edebiri photos are much better than the cover. TBH I am not a fan of women posing with their mouth open like the cover image, because it has a ‘mid C20th pinup model trying to look vapid’ feel. But it seems FKA Twigs regularly poses with that expression, so I suppose she must think it has a different association.
Debs C says:
Vogue and American Vogue used to be my favourites, but not for a few years now and I prefer Harper’s, UK and US versions, plus the Hello Fashion monthly. I miss the great styling, the high street supplements, MDTC, alongside some great styling and historical fashion editorial. I still flick through it, but only as it is included on my Readly digital subscription, but rarely do I stop to read anything, as I get bored wading through the ads, although some of those are more inspirational in their styling than the magazine’s content. The latest cover is probably the poorest I’ve ever seen and I confused as to what the magazine now wants to be or who the audience is. Blogs, Insta feeds, including your excellent examples, are where I find my fix of style and fashion editorial, on the whole, these days.
I too loved “More Dash than Cash” in the 80’s (and 90’s?) when I was young and hard up and trying to put together a working wardrobe. It was always the first section I read. . Enniful’s “Vogue” left me behind and I gave up my long-standing subscription, turning instead to “Bazaar” and, more recently, “Tatler”. I’m optimistic that a stylish 40 something woman from a sound journalistic background will give a beloved magazine its groove back. Chioms Nnadi will, of course, take a while to make her mark. Let’s hope she finds her own version of the wonderful Lucinda Chambers as Alexander Shulman did.
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Excellent piece and I’m completely with you about ‘More dash than cash’ feature, it’s more relevant than ever.
I started buying Vogue in 1973 when I was 13 and that feature was really inspiring.
Love Ros xx