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What the US foreign service needs is a Wintour de France

Lucy Kippist

by Lucy Kippist

11 Dec 05:54am

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Filed under: Anna Wintour, Diplomacy, French Ambassador, Society, United States, Vogue, Women

26 comments

Terrifically toned biceps are the must-have accessory of the modern and powerful. On the right kind of woman they pervade an intangible attitude that vacillates between “don’t mess with me”, “I get things done” and also, if we’re honest, “I can basically rock any kind of sleeveless evening dress you throw at me”.

Can I still demand a Starbucks from the Champs-Elysees? Photo: AP

Right in the centre of this pool of the female and genetically blessed comes Anna Wintour, the editor and chief of American Vogue whose terrifying editorial direction was immortalised in the 2007 documentary, The September Issue and the fictional take, The Devil Wears Prada.

Most recently Wintour has become the controversial nominee on President Obama’s shortlist for US Ambassador to France or the UK when the New Year rolls around.

Scandalous - some have said. But I reckon it’s a spectacular suggestion, although I can’t help attributing this one to Michelle Obama. Or maybe that’s just the arms.

Wintour is fabulous, from her icy stare, coiffed hair and effortlessly tailored clothes, right down to her front row seat at every worthwhile fashion event. And her appointment to ambassador is not such a fanciful notion, according to Dr Geoff Robinson, a Professor in history and politics at Deakin University.

Wintour is said to have recently raised approximately $US40 million for the Obama re-election campaign. Not many people raise that sort of money, and it can put you in line for a cushy overseas post. For example, did you know that Hollywood child star Shirley Temple was ambassador to Czechoslovakia in 1982?

Not everyone is convinced of Wintour’s suitability for the job. Professor Robinson said there will be plenty of Republicans up in arms over the “infusion of her celebrity”. But just how different can the life of a French ambassador be compared to the celebrity word? Fabulous parties: check. Air kisses. Check. Ability to talk ones way out of any conversation: double check. And fashion: “bien sûr”.

Wintour is also no wallflower. Her CV boasts a 25 year history of magazine take over and domination - hardly a job for ignorant wimps. And that experience will prove a real bonus to the diplomatic role, according to Dr Robinson. As ambassador, Wintour will be expected to echo the voice of the United States on a range of political and economic issues.

Above all, Wintour’s appointment would be a bold and confident statement about diplomacy and female recruitment generally. And whoever takes credit for the suggestion should be congratulated. It’s the kind of out of the box thinking that should be used in recruitment strategies everywhere.

Especially given the current woeful representation of women in boards, and other top jobs. Most recent figures show: 14.2 per cent of women in Australia’s top 200 companies; 12.5 per cent in the UK and 15.7 per cent in the USA.

I can’t also help but think that Wintour would bring a much needed sparkle to the job at hand - she’s anything but lacking in glamour.

Paris won’t know what hit it.

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26 comments

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    • Ally says:

      05:41am | 11/12/12

      And if she gets the job, a lady somewhere with a masters, phd, twenty years in policy and politics who can manage a whole fleet during an election or crisis doesn’t get the job. But hey, she had flabby arms anyway.

      Reply

    • Ridge says:

      08:37am | 11/12/12

      Why does the role need to be occupied by a woman?

    • Trevor says:

      09:44am | 11/12/12

      I remember Madelaine Allbright being interviewed by Oprah. One of the main points she kept harping on about was how in meetings she would always be worried about being judged for being a woman and whether other high ranking dignitaries thought her clothes were suitable.

      Here’s an idea- when discussing matters of such high nature, how about we leave the gender politics at the door? Shouldn’t she be thinking about her frickin job rather than her clothes or how others in the room perceive her?

    • OchreBunyip says:

      06:11am | 11/12/12

      Somehow it makes perfect sense for an editor of a magazine of photoshopped images of women to be considered to represent the US government. She’ll know how to present fake with style and aplomb.

      Reply

    • marley says:

      07:44am | 11/12/12

      Well, that’s what diplomacy is.  Honest people sent abroad to lie for the good of their countries.

    • Super D says:

      06:12am | 11/12/12

      She certainly wouldn’t be after the Benghazi gig…

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      06:17am | 11/12/12

      “Wintour is fabulous, from her icy stare, coiffed hair and effortlessly tailored clothes, right down to her front row seat at every worthwhile fashion event.”

      Not that I know of her nor her fabulosity but it seems it does come down to the credentials you do have in favour with those who will nominate you and work to have you accepted.

      ” Wintour is said to have recently raised approximately $US40 million for the Obama re-election campaign. ” might do some heavy favouring it would seem!

      ” Wintour is also no wallflower. Her CV boasts a 25 year history of magazine take over and domination - hardly a job for ignorant wimps. And that experience will prove a real bonus to the diplomatic role ” and lets hope if her nomination is successful she will also do well on the diplomacy ropes for I suspect they are a tad different to corporate biceps right crosses and hooks.

      ” Above all, Wintour’s appointment would be a bold and confident statement about diplomacy and female recruitment generally. And whoever takes credit for the suggestion should be congratulated. It’s the kind of out of the box thinking that should be used in recruitment strategies everywhere. “

      I dunno Lucy, if it is an outright nomination because of services rendered for a personal campaign, is that really out of the box?

      I would put more on varities of rices and we have Condi and Susi with the latter being shaped up as another Secretary of State and she does come across as a very forceful kind of woman with her UN presentations.
      It’d be interesting to see a Rice Vs Rice presidential campaign, one a flighty pianoist and the other an in there slugger!

      Reply

    • Jaz says:

      06:58am | 11/12/12

      Wait she gave 40 Million to the Obama campaign and is now nominated for a cushy high payed job in France. That there is the problem with American politics. God help us if our democracy is ever ovetaken by plutocrats the same way the U.S is

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      09:15am | 11/12/12

      I was pretty surprised to find out that handing out attractive ambassadorships as rewards to donors and campaigners is an accepted element of American political culture. It is not ideal.

      Also, clearly Wintour would just be a figurehead for the actual diplomats at the embassy doing the actual work?

    • simonfromlakemba says:

      11:08am | 11/12/12

      Its par for course.

      Bush gave the Netherlands post to a guy with a huge shady past, started Americas sub prime crises and was a huge donor to his campaign.

    • Colin says:

      11:46am | 11/12/12

      @ AdamC

      “I was pretty surprised to find out that handing out attractive ambassadorships as rewards to donors and campaigners is an accepted element of American political culture…”

      You were “...pretty surprised…”? Really?

      Well, if that’s the case, you’ll also be amazed to learn that some politicians are known to take bribes; astonished to hear that people in parliament don’t always get there on their merits, and downright gob-smacked to take on board the notion that political favours, pork-barelling, and back-room deals are pretty much the norm in all facets of Western politics…

    • marley says:

      12:01pm | 11/12/12

      @AdamC - the Americans have a long tradition of handing out senior positions to political allies and campaign donors.  Not just ambassadorships, but down to well below the most senior ranks.  Mind you, though they take it to excess, they are not unique. Kim Beazley didn’t get Washington, or Amanda Vanstone Rome, because of their long service in DFAT.

    • egg says:

      12:20pm | 11/12/12

      @Colin, I think AdamC was pointing out that this behaviour is out in the open and accepted, which the shocking details you (rather sarcastically) pointed out are not. While everything you noted is illegal, the behaviour AdamC referred to is legal and not covered up in any way. Therein lies the difference.

      *feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, AdamC*

    • AdamC says:

      12:38pm | 11/12/12

      Marley, that is fair enough, I suppose. Maybe I am being irrational, though, but using diplomatic postings to pension off pollies seems less egregious than handing them out as rewards to donors an fundraising coordinators.

      Egg, you are right, of course. Don’t mind Colin, he is a troll and was trying to troll me, as trolls do.

    • Colin says:

      12:58pm | 11/12/12

      @ AdamC

      “Egg, you are right, of course…”

      Oh, yes, how conveniently you irrational argument is saved by the mind-reading of “egg”. Bravo.

      Which, of course (with faux pas explained away), you are then able to attack me as a troll, rather than face the embarrassment of seeming foolish:

      “Don’t mind Colin, he is a troll and was trying to troll me, as trolls do. ...”

      Nice. You should train as some sort of rugby player; no one would ever tackle you with such fleet-of-foot sidestepping..!

    • marley says:

      01:01pm | 11/12/12

      @AdamC - I’m not arguing in favour of the American system - but it does have one peculiar advantage - it often brings people who have been successful in other walks of live into the civil service.  It’s not necessarily a bad thing to have someone with business smarts gingering up the mandarins.

    • AdamC says:

      01:43pm | 11/12/12

      Possibly, marley. But it would be better if the process had greater integrity. ‘Jobs for mates’ is never a great look.

      ‘Colin’, congratulations. You have now made the leap from ineffectual trolling to complete incoherence. Hopefully your next evolutionary step will be to dignified (online) silence.

    • Colin says:

      02:21pm | 11/12/12

      @  AdamC

      ” ‘Colin’, congratulations. You have now made the leap from ineffectual trolling to complete incoherence. Hopefully your next evolutionary step will be to dignified (online) silence…”

      Now, see, Adam, this is the problem. You won’t try to debate my assertions; instead you simply dismiss me as a troll. Which is completely unfair; I want you to answer my questions. And simply now telling me that you hope I just keep quiet is simply more evidence that you aren’t interested in discussing what i have raised rationally but prefer to play the “Troll” card when you face something you can’t (or won’t) answer. Poor form.

      So, I will try again: Do you really attest that you were being “Ironic” as “Egg” conveniently gave you an out for, or did you truly not realise that these things occurred? It really is a simple question.

    • egg says:

      02:26pm | 11/12/12

      @Colin, it wasnt so much mind-reading as comment-reading/-understanding… perhaps you could try it next time yourself, save me the trouble?

      If you’re not a troll, stop acting like one. Simple.

    • AdamC says:

      02:51pm | 11/12/12

      Colin says:

      “I want you to answer my questions.”

      But that would be feeding the troll, AKA you.

      “So, I will try again: Do you really attest that you were being “Ironic” as “Egg” conveniently gave you an out for, or did you truly not realise that these things occurred?”

      Ahhh ... OK, you win. I will stoop to engaging with you like you are serious commenter, even though I know you are not. Congratulations.

      Anyway, here goes:

      Egg did not claim I was being ironic, which I was not. I am also not ignorant of the existence of bribery, etc, in most political systems. However, they are not ‘accepted’ elements of those political systems. See the distinction? I mean, don’t they teach remedial written comprehension at Under The Bridge Technical College?

    • PsychoHyena says:

      02:54pm | 11/12/12

      @Colin, the reason why people don’t debate your assertions is that you provide leading questions by which if someone chooses to answer in a way that doesn’t actually directly answer the questions you claim they have not answered the question.

      You, yourself will often choose not to respond to questions made of you and completely ignore them while responding to questions made by other people, in the same thread after the original questions.

      You claim that you are not a troll (or at least attempting poorly to troll) and yet there is no evidence that you have presented that suggests otherwise. As soon as you are called out, you claim that it’s because the person doing the calling does not see things from your point-of-view and yet when someone disagrees with you, you will assert that they are bogans, are of lesser intelligence, conspiracy theorists or are trolls.

      You are a typical example of the ‘12-yo mummy’s boy living in the basement eating cheese balls while downloading yovos of Sarah Michelle’. This is not to say you are, just that is the image you put out of yourself.

    • Colin says:

      03:05pm | 11/12/12

      @ AdamC 02:51pm | 11/12/12

      “....don’t they teach remedial written comprehension at Under The Bridge Technical College?”

      And you call ME a troll? I asked you to reply - which you did, thank-you - but then you went on with the troll but again…And then you want me to reply in a better fashion to you? Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know.

      @ PsychoHyena

      “You are a typical example of the ‘12-yo mummy’s boy living in the basement eating cheese balls while downloading yovos of Sarah Michelle’.”

      Actually, it’s Twisties, I’m only eleven, and the yovos - you are right - are Sarah Michelle…

    • NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:

      07:32am | 11/12/12

      Hi Lucy,

      Ms Anne Wintour sounds almost perfect and too good to be true!  This is still an interesting article written with a light hearted attitude. Which can be “just what we need right now”, really.  I am only wondering if all foreign diplomats looked like Ms Anne Wintour, would that be a bit distraction to some other diplomats? Also looking at it from a different angle could American Foreign Policy officials/diplomats and the glossy magazines like the American Vogue have really anything in common?  Except for the heavy advertising a bit like the expensive election campaigning in the USA.

      Maybe apart from the fact that maybe the first lady Michelle Obama gets her original ideas from the Vogue about deciding what to wear on those important functions in the White House and overseas trips.  And also could running a glamorous magazine such as the Vogue, be similar to the world of International politics and foreign policies in the troubled war zones in the Middle East Region?  And then again we are talking about France and its world famous fashion catwalks and designer labels, right?

      I remember very famous people in the Middle East region posing for the Vogue once upon a time.  But for me personally the actual similarities end there. And by the way you can get a copy of the world famous magazine almost anywhere these days.  May be a job in the United Nations would be more appropriate for Ms Wintour as an ambassador.  Surely in our world we do need high profile figures and attractive people to dedicate some of their special time and energy to such humanitarian organisations without a pay! Kind regards.

      Reply

    • Colin says:

      11:22am | 11/12/12

      Anna Wintour is a fabulous choice for American Diplomat to France.

      Not only is she the doyen of fashion and style, but she is intelligent, savvy, influential, discreet, and the mistress of suavity. All perfect attributes for an ambassador.

      Say what you will about her, but in a position as someone who must embody all of the traits that Anna Wintour possesses and who must be the picture-perfect embodiment of the essence of American style and elegance on the World Stage, she could not be more suited to the role

      Reply

    • Mat Salleh says:

      01:08pm | 11/12/12

      has anyone ever seen ‘pervade’ used like Lucy uses it?

      “pervade an intangible attitude”

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      04:30pm | 11/12/12

      Perhaps project could also have been used but pervade has that 40M$ quality about it that Lucy no doubt intended to convey.

 
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