Victoria Beckham was one of forty legendary British Vogue cover stars who gathered to shoot for Edward Enninful’s latest edition.
Edward, 51, the publication’s first male and first Black editor, announced in June that he would be stepping down to take on a new global role at publisher Conde Nast.
He made sure his latest cover would be one to remember by bringing artists like Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid, Salma Hayek, Oprah and Miley Cyrus into one room to pose for photos.
Edward revealed how he came to choose the icons, writing: ‘When it came to my last issue, I knew the cover would be dedicated to women. Naturally!
‘It was clear to all of us on the team that no woman could or should summarize the past years for the magazine. What we needed was a group that could leverage the power of the collective to bring to life what I hope has been a bold, disruptive and evolutionary period in Vogue’s history.”
Victoria Beckham was one of forty legendary British Vogue cover stars who gathered to shoot the latest edition of Edward Enninful
Kate Moss caused a storm alongside Victoria Beckham and Linda Evangelista
Christy Turlington joined Maya Jama, Selma Blair and Precious Lee on set
After sending out requests to his 40 cover stars, Edward confessed he was holding his breath hoping they would agree, before the celebrities traveled from London, Paris, Milan, Los Angeles and beyond to arrive in December for the shoot in New York.
He recalled, “They came about as if from a dream.
“As the models rolled around at 8 a.m., the movie icons, the musicians, the moguls, the sports legends and media stars began to arrive. Mother and daughter Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford carpooled.
“ Ditto Salma Hayek Pinault and Linda Evangelista, since Salma stayed at Linda’s house the night before.
‘Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus blew through their pop star schemes. And everyone made sure everything went smoothly so Gigi Hadid could get home to her toddler on time.”
Edward concluded: “So here it is: my 76th and final issue of Vogue, six and a half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women featured on this cover. It was an extraordinary ride and an absolute honor.
“As I step into my new role as Condé Nast’s global creative and cultural advisor for Vogue, I am determined to continue championing the incredible range of voices in fashion and media and ensure we continue to embrace the energy explosion of recent years keep it going. .
“We always say it because it always needs to be said: ‘There’s still a lot to be done.’
Kate, Cindy Crawford, Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss and Irina Shayk looked fantastic
Miley Cyrus and Kate Moss showed off leggy looks in mini dresses for the photoshoot
Naomi Campbell was a vision in a white dress with a dropped waist
(L-R) Gemma Chan, Simone Ashley, Rina Sawayama, Anya Taylor-Joy, Maya Jama, Precious Lee, Jameela Jamil
Linda Evangelista and Salma Hayek arrived at the shoot together after having a sleepover the night before in preparation for the shoot
Jodie Turner Smith and Adwoa Aboah looked cheerful as they beamed at the camera
Jane Fonda was assisted by a walking stick as she walked by with close friend Oprah
Edward will be replaced by Londoner Chioma Nnadi as editor of British Vogue.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Edward had hoped to one day replace Anna Wintour, but the Vogue editor-in-chief is determined to stay put and ‘swat away all rivals like a fly’.
Edward will take up a ‘global consultancy role’ at Vogue, ‘with the freedom to take on wider creative projects’.
“He made no secret of the fact that he wanted the big job (global editor-in-chief), but he hit the glass ceiling and he had gone as far as he could,” the Vogue insider explained.
‘He thought he would stay in London for a few years and then move to New York, but he now knows he will never get Anna’s job at Condé Nast.
‘Anna is the undisputed boss. She has defeated many rivals and continues to do so. She could swat him like a fly.”
A fashion source put it more bluntly: “I think Edward underestimated her power. When he was appointed editor, he got so much smoke up his ass that he couldn’t see his own pants anymore.’
This week, Vogue staff also saw the end of an era at their office, as they moved from the legendary Vogue House in Mayfair, London, where the magazine has been published for 65 years.
Condé Nast announced last year that staff from its publications, including Vogue, GQ, Tatler and House & Garden, would move to The Adelphi on the Thames Embankment.
Vogue House was put up for sale earlier this year and purchased by shipping magnate Eyal Ofer, a Monaco-based businessman said to be worth $23 billion. It will be renamed 1 Hanover Square, marking the end of an era for the publisher.
Edward Enninful, 51, the publication’s first male and first Black editor, announced in June that he would be stepping down to take on a new global role at Conde Nast (pictured with Naomi Campbell)
The deal only covers the leasehold of the property, as the Church of England owns the freehold.
Ofer paid £75 million for the property, £5 million more than the price it was listed for, according to The Telegraph.
British Vogue was launched in 1916 and moved to Vogue House, just off Regent Street, in 1958.
The March issue of British Vogue is available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 13 February