logo
Coddingtonauthor

Grace Coddington

4.50

Average rating

1

Books

Pamela Rosalind Grace Coddington (born 20 April 1941) is a Welsh former model and former creative director at large of American Vogue magazine. Coddington is known for the creation of large, complex and dramatic photoshoots. A Guardian profile wrote that she "has produced some of fashion's most memorable imagery. Her pictures might be jolly and decadent or moody and mysterious."

Coddington was born on the island of Anglesey in Wales, United Kingdom, to hotelier parents. Her interest in fashion began in her teens, when she would anxiously await the arrival of a current issue of Vogue magazine, which was at least three months outdated because she needed to order it on "rush-copy". Coddington lived many miles away from any designer shops, so Vogue was her only connection to the fashion world. 

She says that she loves "the whole sort of chic thing ("Italianate culture") [about Vogue] that was so entirely out of context compared to the lifestyle that [she] led." As a teen, she was pale-skinned, convent-educated and never went anywhere on her holidays, so she just looked at Vogue. In 1959 at the age of 18, there was a Vogue model competition, and someone submitted her pictures. 

She ended up winning the Young Model section and was featured in the October issue in a photograph by Norman Parkinson. She then began her modelling career for Vogue. At the age of 26, she was in a car accident that left her with head injuries and a removed eyelid, which was later reconstructed through plastic surgery.

Two years after the accident she was interviewed by British Vogue's Editor Beatrix Miller, and was employed as a Junior Editor. After 19 years as Photo Editor with British Vogue, she moved to New York City to work for Calvin Klein. In July 1988, she joined Anna Wintour at American Vogue, where she worked as the magazine's creative director.

In January 2016, Coddington announced that she would be exiting her role as creative director at Vogue to pursue other projects. It was announced on 9 May 2016 that Coddington would be working with Tiffany & Co.

Later that year, Coddington's new campaign for Tiffany & Co. A/W 16, featuring Elle Fanning launched. The campaign was sparse of product shots and traditional models. With direction from Coddington, Tiffany opted instead to feature celebrities and close up imagery of the jewelry styled on the body.

In 2018, Coddington also partnered with Louis Vuitton on a capsule collection, featuring many designs incorporating her cats.

Best author’s book

pagesback-cover
4.5

Grace

Meghan Markle
Read