Don't Hate The Devil, Hate The Game

It was 11:30 p.m. on Monday and a Conan devotee was watching Letterman. Late night treachery for good reason: I was waiting to see if The Devil breathes fire.

Vogue's Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, shepherdess of the fashionista flock and alleged magazine monster, was gracing Letterman's couch.

This woman was portrayed as the world's worst boss in the bestselling novel-turned-movie The Devil Wears Prada. This Friday in New York (Sept 11 in selected theatres elsewhere), the non-fiction version of Wintour will be showcased in the documentary The September Issue. The promotion of the movie has been centered on Wintour's disagreeableness with high profile columnists (many of them women) describing Wintour as an ice queen, an alien and the Sun King. Earlier in the week, popular New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd went so far to ask, "Is Anna Human?"

Sorry Maureen, but after Wintour's Letterman appearance, her humanity should not be in question. She was gracious, elegant and even likeable. When she was introduced to the stage, her trademark bob and small frame glided in a black, white and grey boatneck slim dress. If that's what 59 looks like, bring it on! She smiled shyly as Letterman delivered his unfunny jokes. She was not aloof or rude or fake. And in response to David's question as to whether her icy reputation is well-earned, she said coyly, I'm not always warm and cuddly.

What should be questioned is why so many women love to hate her. Why are we so hard on women who are not warm and cuddly, cute and bubbly? Why do some women like to pull other (more successful) women down?

I like The Devil. I've liked The Devil ever since Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly (insiders agreed Priestly was a loosely-veiled Wintour) mentored Anne Hathaway's budding journalist character in the movie. I didn't envy Priestly's broken marriage or the lack of connection she had with her children, but I respected her decisiveness in the workplace. She knew what she liked. Her editing room was not a democracy: when she made up her mind, she stated her decision and moved on to the next task. She's the editor; that's her job. And like any person in charge, she has a lot of things to do and doesn't have time for drama.

Yes, it is important to consider other people's feelings. Maya Angelou put it best: I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Most human interaction requires sensitivity and compassion but the editing room may be an exception. In the often cutthroat world of magazine journalism, you learn this lesson fast: don't take things personally, or get out.

I have never worked for Vogue, nor have I ever met Anna Wintour. But I have had a few managers who have the same manner: a no-crying-in-the-boardroom philosophy, spit-it-out glares and certainly no time for chitchat. It was harsh at first. I thought that maybe they didn't like me. It turns out they just didn't have time for what they deemed were insignificant issues. (Feelings? What are feelings?) Once I understood that, I tried to let any insensitivity slide, and tried to recognize them for their leadership, judgement and management skills. Their humanity was never questioned. Nor were they ever called bitches. That's because they were men.

Late Night host Letterman even alluded to this double standard in his opening monologue. He said Wintour has been called aloof, bitchy and mean to her staff. He then joked that he was actually talking about himself. Donald Trump is another high profile New York-based chief who flaunts his decisiveness with every You're Fired he spits. He's not called bitchy. He's called the boss.

Who knows how much longer Anna will hold the chief editorial position at Vogue, but good for her for greeting her critics with such affability and humour. And she's promoted her film well - I'm looking forward to seeing The September Issue. Even if you aren't a fashionista, here's a woman who has learned to thrive despite her vengeful critics.

Ladies - don't hate The Devil, hate the game.

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For more on the actual magazine, take a look at the September issue's Into The Woods photo series. Nymphet-model Natalia Vodianova plays the most stylish grey-haired Little Red (Galliano-wearing) Riding Hood you've ever seen. Thank you photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Whitney-worthy.

Tania Leah Haas
		About the author:
		Born with a nomadic gene and a propensity for talking to strangers, Tania has spent the last three years working as a photojournalist and reporter. Most recently, Tania worked as a writer for Bloomberg Radio in NYC - and covered financial news in the eye of the economic storm. Tania's column will cover health, green-living and other topics that tickle her fancy. She served as a volunteer teacher in Nepal and Tibet after completing her undergraduate degree at Queen's University, and she earned an M.S. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
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