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If you are very familiar with Vogue magazine, or you have already seen "The September Issue," then you know who this woman is.



No? Recognize her now?

(She's on the right.)

How about now, in her modeling heyday?

Grace Coddington wearing Nina Ricci, photo John French. England, 1965

If you have heard the name Grace Coddington, you are likely more familiar with her work than who she is as a personality.

She is the Creative Director of American Vogue, and it is her romantic yet spirited, and sometimes even very edgy vision that elevates a spread in Vogue to high fashion fantasy - miles above what might run in a different type of ladies' mag that has articles on 100 ways to wear a pair of black pants to the office.

A typical Grace Coddington photo shoot


...and another

Ms. Coddington has worked as the yin to Anna Wintour's yang since 1988, and although thanks to that devil book she is less well known than "the Wintour of our discontent," she is equally influential in setting the elite tone of the fashion tome, pushing back creatively against Ms. Wintour even as she lumbers about the Vogue offices in heavy sandals, her signature red mane frizzing about her face and shoulders. She is the top witch in the Vogue coven - almost.

A tribute to Grace featuring model Karen Elson


The real Grace Coddington, holding her own with Karl Lagerfeld.

Ms. Coddington finally catches some of the spotlight in the Vogue documentary "The September Issue" and it's great fun to watch this interesting creature of fashion at work in her most natural habitat.