A Deep Dive into Grace Coddington and Her Fashion Storytelling
- ESADE Fashion
- Mar 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 10
Pop culture is full of iconic duos like John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, or Charli XCX and Troye Sivan. But our personal favourite is Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour, the duo that shaped fashion as we know it today.
Every fashion lover knows Wintour and her groundbreaking work at Vogue, but many overlook her right hand and close friend Grace Coddington. Her visionary approach to editorial direction and styling has been essential not only for Vogue but for the entire industry. This post will explore her journey, her pivotal role in shaping fashion and storytelling and the creative partnership that made history alongside Anna Wintour.
Her early years
Grace Coddington was born on April 20, 1941, on the island of Anglesey, Wales. Her parents ran a hotel that stayed empty during the winter, making her childhood feel quiet and lonely at times. Living in such a remote place, fashion felt worlds away.
She began to show an interest in fashion during her teenage years when she anxiously waited for each delivery of a Vogue issue, which she usually received with a three-month delay as she ordered it via mail. As she had no access to most fashionable clothing stores and difficulties regarding networking inside the industry, Vogue was Coddington’s gateway to the fashion world.
The beginning of her career
In 1959, Grace decided to move to London, ready to make a living. Coddington enrolled in a modeling course at the Cherry Marshall Academy, an agency that managed all the models who dominated the British fashion industry in the early 1960s. She currently stated that modeling was the perfect way for her to escape to a world of wealth and excitement and to travel to distant places.
Her modeling career was on the rise, she posed for big names in the industry such as Norman Parkinson or David Montgomery. Unfortunately, Coddington got into a car accident in 1961, which made her go through multiple esthetic surgeries, hampering her career as a model.
Her role in Vogue
Even though in her previous career as a model, she featured Vogue covers, her journey at British Vogue started in 1968 when she started working there as a stylist. She then traveled the world, working alongside the best photographers in numerous productions. However, she left British Vogue to work as design director for Calvin Klein in 1987, right when Anna Wintour was appointed editor-in-chief by American Vogue.
Coddington called Wintour, her dear friend, to congratulate her on her new position, and the latter offered her a position to work hand in hand with her in American Vogue. This marked the industry forever, it was the beginning of an iconic tandem. The duo, and especially Coddington, truly captured the spotlight in 2009 with the release of the documentary The September Issue. It became a must-watch for fashion lovers, giving us an intimate look at their dynamic and creative process.
Spanish Vogue stated that Coddington confessed the following: “People on the street address me as if I were the heroine of that documentary; I think it was more about showing the creative tensions Anna and I experienced working together.” In any case, tensions or not, there is no denying that this duo gifted the fashion world with their talent.
Grace Coddington left American Vogue in January 2016, but her legacy remains. She will go down in fashion history as one of the most talented creative directors Vogue ever had.
Some highlights of her career
Coddington's work stands out for how she brings fantasy and art to life, often prioritizing imagination over practicality. This quality makes her editorials feel magical and one of a kind.
What makes her work so special is the way she tells stories through every photoshoot, making the viewer feel something deeper than just looking at clothes.
Alice in Wonderland
Issue: American Vogue December 2003
Produced in the early 2000s, the Alice in Wonderland series shot by Annie Leibovitz established Natalia Vodianova as Alice.
Grace Coddington describes it as one of the most important fashion stories of her career. She recalled how Anna Wintour suggested featuring iconic designers as characters from the story, bringing them into the whimsical world of the photos. Alongside Leibovitz and Coddington playfully matched each creator with their fairytale counterpart, blending fashion and fantasy into a very remarkable visual narrative.
The 'Misfits' starring Isabeli Fontana
Issue: American Vogue February 2004
The 'Misfits' is Grace Coddington at her best, turning fashion into a story you can feel. Shot by Arthur Elgort in the middle of El Mirage, Arizona, it brought the American classic dream to life with Isabeli Fontana, her then husband, and their baby, blurring the line between fiction and reality.
“Senior Moment,” with Gemma Ward
Issue: American Vogue August 2004
This editorial was all about contrasts, blending youth and old age in a fashionable way that brings a sentiment of nostalgia, done in a way that felt unexpected but also very playful. Styled by Grace Coddington and shot by Tim Walker, it featured Gemma Ward in dreamy, surreal scenes with the elderly, creating something weirdly beautiful. The editorial mixed fantasy with a hint of melancholy, making it one of those Vogue stories that sticks with you.
Checking Out: Kate Moss at the Ritz Paris
Issue: American Vogue April 2012
Grace Coddington styles Kate Moss and others in Tim Walker’s dreamlike portrayal of feminine beauty and luxury in their 'Checking Out ' editorial.
The editorial is part of a special issue dedicated to the Ritz Paris, where fashion history was made. Before closing its doors for renovation, the legendary hotel hosts Kate Moss in haute couture one last time, capturing the essence of its timeless glamour through Coddington’s signature storytelling.
From the Efashion team, we decided to dive into Coddington's life and work, as her visionary approach to fashion storytelling has left a huge mark on the industry, transforming editorials into art. This highlights that fashion goes beyond clothes, becoming another form of art and beauty.
Her creative partnership with Anna Wintour and her iconic work at Vogue continue to inspire today’s fashion world, and Coddington’s legacy will undoubtedly shape how we view and experience fashion for years to come.
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