Born in Wales in 1941, Grace was daughter to hotelier parents and educated at a convent. Her love for fashion developed in her younger years a teen. She lived in a remote area that caused her to "rush-copy" each monthly Vogue addition just to get it in time, 3 months later. What intrigued her the most about fashion was that she loved "the whole sort of chic thing [about Vogue] that was so entirely out of context compared to the lifestyle that [she] led". She rarely traveled on her holiday breaks, so instead she would find a getaway by reading Vogue. Her break into the fashion world came shortly after someone submitted her photos to a modeling contest in Vogue. She won the Young model search and began her career as a model for Vogue.
She had a very successful career as a model, ending abruptly when she was involved in a terrible car crash at the age of 26. This accident left her disfigured and without an eye. She has had many corrective surgeries since then. Two years later she began working for British Vogue as a Junior Editor. She worked with British Vogue, eventually becoming the Photo Editor, for 19 years. After her time at British Vogue she moved to NYC to work for Calvin Klein. In 1988, she joined the American Vogue team just days after Anna Wintour begin her career there. Since then, she has remained the Creative Director. She remains one of the few that actually dress and style the models. She said she a bit "old school".
Some of Grace's Work
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During a texture photo shoot.
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Grace was featured in R.J. Cutler's 2009 documentary The September Issue. The film let us in on her unique relationship with Anna Wintour, dubbed as the "Pope" of fashion by a fellow staff member. The film focused on the daily happenings in the American Vogue offices. It seems that Coddington is the only one able to stand up to Wintour. Coddington’s appreciates art to the core. She is a romantic at heart and sees beauty in anything. Her ability to visualize photo shoots is pure genius. She understands the fashion component that needs to represented as well as the emotional component. She brings pictures to life, having them tell a story of there very own.
This clip is my favorite of Grace during The Semptember Issue
I love when she repeats the advice that Norman Parkinson, Photographer, gave her. "Always keep your eyes open. Always keep watching. What you see outside your windows can inspire you."
Another memorable moment in the movie was when Anna comments on a photo from the color block shoot. The photo involved camera man, Bob Richman, in a jumping scene. After one look, Anna laughs and says "retouching will be needed. Bob needs to go to the gym". Keep in mind this is right in front of Bob! After Anna leaves, Grace intervenes and says to Bob "Personally, I think its better that you aren’t skinny, skinny. It makes the point that you're real people, not models. Every one's not perfect in this world. Its enough that the models are perfect. You don’t need to go to the gym."
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| Bob Richman with model during color block shoot |
“When Anna Wintour tells you that you’re overweight, the next thing you do is go to the gym, as Andre (Leon Talley) pointed out…tut the truth is, I mean, for crying out loud, that poor guy, he’s lugging around a 50-pound camera on his shoulder for nine months, following Anna around, and she’s like giving him her back as much as she can, and then he spends a weekend leaping up in the air, modeling to rescue her September issue, and what does she say when she sees the pictures? ‘You look fat.’ So, God bless her,” Cutler said.
Grace is so inspiring to me because of her brilliance in visual art and staying true to who she is. Even when she is up against the "Pope".
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| Current photo of Grace Coddington |
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Coddington and Wintour
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Grace's iconic fiery red hair. Another thing I love about her.
