5 Style Tips You Can Learn From Anna Wintour

As the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine and artistic director of Condé Nast Publications, Anna Wintour, 67, cuts a commanding and authoritative figure wherever she goes.

As the most powerful woman in fashion, she is scrutinized head to toe, her word is taken as gospel and she is revered within the fashion industry.

But her influence extends beyond the silky confines of the fashion world, having raised millions for pet projects like the annual MET Ball, the highly anticipated fundraiser for the Costume Institute, which took place this week.

So what does the most powerful woman in fashion wear?

Despite a rumoured yearly clothing allowance, paid for by Vogue, and a job that advocates buying the latest and trendiest things, she surprisingly sticks to a signature style – one that is best described as feminine and classic.

So, as the many A-list celebrities prepared for last night’s MET Gala – as evidenced by various Instagram posts documenting the preparations – we’d venture to say there was no frenzied dressing in Anna Wintour’s home.

The woman has a style, knows what looks good on her and resolutely sticks to it.

Click through for five of her signature style notes.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 02: Anna Wintour attends the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" press preview at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

Despite the notion that fashion pros love to wear black, the editrix is almost always seen wearing colour and loves bold patterns. Here she doubles up on prints and wears a striking floral dress and with an overcoat in contrasting floral print. The lesson here is not to be afraid of big bold prints. The flowers on this dress might be extra large but they are a simplified design and in wonderful pastels. Cinching the waist with a belt as she does, helps define the waistline and she doesn’t get lost in the oversized prints.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 13: Conde Nast Artistic Director Anna Wintour, shoe detail, attends the world premiere of "First Monday in May" during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival at John Zuccotti Theater at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on April 13, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Fashion magazines like Vogue usually obsess about shoes, detailing the latest, the greatest and the must-have footwear of the season. But surprisingly, editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, sticks to one kind of shoes for daytime; a classic slingback with a medium height heel by Manolo Blahnik. And this classic shoe seems to work with every outfit. For chilly days, her go to footwear is knee high boots. Heel heights and styles may come and go but you’ll never find her in a wedge or a ridiculously towering stiletto. The trick to having one style of shoes work with your entire wardrobe is to keep it simple, demure and in a neutral colour.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 13: Conde Nast Artistic Director Anna Wintour attends the world premiere of "First Monday in May" during the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival at John Zuccotti Theater at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on April 13, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)

Sunglasses are a category that is booming business for designers since most people often buy more than one in a variety of styles. The editor is famous for hers; dark, oversized and in a classic rectangular shape. They are very much part of her signature style since she is rarely seen without them. Find the perfect frame to suit your face, free of embellishment and large logos and you’ll really only need to own one pair of sunglasses.

attends the Carolina Herrera Fall 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week on February 15, 2016 in New York City.

She found the perfect hair style that suits her years ago and has stuck to it since – a bob with sharp bangs. The most change one has noticed about this famous bob of hers is she tends to lighten up her hair colour as she has gotten older. Most hairdressers will insist that you need to change your hairstyle as you age – which is true as your face changes or you’re in the mood for something different – but if you have a simple classic cut, truly the only change you need is the colour. Aim to go lighter as you age.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 07: Anna Wintour is seen arriving at Stella McCartney fashion show during Paris Fashion Week : Womenswear Fall Winter 2016/2017 on March 7, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images)

The one part of her wardrobe that she seems to allow to make a loud statement would be with her coats. She tends to favour classic animal prints,  or bold prints or in this case, a beautiful floral embroidery. However, the shapes are still simple with classic cuts. The take away lesson here can be a great coat can hide a multitude of sins. And often a coat is the first part of an outfit one notices. Invest in a spectacular piece, after all, winter is a dreary time of year and you’ll need a boost to your image and spirit.