The Squid stories: May 2013

Miss Grace Coddington is the creative director of Vogue US. Or better: the life long creative driving force behind Vogue US.

No, not Miss Wintour, although we all know what she is capable off: she made Vogue US Thé Magazine Reference in Fashion Business. Grace made Vogue a magic fashion inspiration wonderland, full of mythical stories, where Grace herself plays the Godmother elf.

I read Graces' 'Memoir' on my recent short holiday break in Turkey. I so loved it. The book was a trip into high fashion lane, a trip that you enjoy page after page, story after story.

Grace's stories are funny, entertaining and give a great insight in decades of fashion history. She worked with Norman Parkinson, David Bailey, nearly sleept with Roman Polanski and Mick Jagger, is close friends with Bruce Weber, Peter Lindbergh, Arthur Elgort and Cecil Beaton-to name a few. Always front row, together with the fashion in crowd, very funny in their seriousness.

The who is who in Vogue fashion Land: do the test yourself.

You may know Grace Coddington from the documentary on Vogue’s big fall-fashion issue in 2007 'The September Issue'. Coddington overwhelmed us all with her imaginative, idealistic fashion stories and her calm but so powerful resistance to the world famous 'Devil wearing Prada' Anna Wintour’s whims. There she showed the world, for the first time on that scale, her real power and vision. A book on 'her' story was much needed.

It is a real 'must-read' for all fashion lovers. It's a history on 20th-century British and American fashion culture, and essential for the ones who love the 50ties, 60 ties, 70 ties and 80 ties vibes, lived though the very heart as Grace was there as her magnificent self.
First as a model, later as a starting stylist at Vogue where she really climbed all the ladders. Coddington was discovered more than 50 years ago, and never really left since.

Why I love Grace so much, besides for her magnificently poofy orange hair? She, and her partner,hairstylist Didier Malige, adore cats like we do. Her stories and little funny drawings on her 'fury darlings' are so recognisable and hilarious that you have to close her in your arms.

Off course, as Grace is still working in the heart of the business, she is not critical (enough) on her exciting but also very superficial world. Grace is very careful on who she talks about and what she really thinks of them.

Don't expect controversial statements, juicy gossip or real insights stories on freaky Karl or naughty John, Grace keeps gracefully her mouth. Maybe once retired, we'll get the whole story, uncensored.