Who became editor-in-chief of American Vogue in 1914 and led it for nearly four decades?

Edna Woolman Chase became editor-in-chief of American Vogue in 1914 and led it for nearly four decades.

Chase joined Vogue in 1895 as a teenager working in the magazine’s mailroom. She rose through the editorial ranks and became editor-in-chief after Condé Nast acquired the publication. Her long tenure helped establish Vogue as an influential fashion authority in the United States.

During Chase’s editorship, Vogue expanded its coverage beyond dress and accessories. The magazine increasingly treated fashion as part of culture, society, art, and design. It also became known for polished photography, illustration, and carefully edited prose.

Chase remained editor-in-chief until 1952. She is sometimes confused with Diana Vreeland, who edited Vogue during the 1960s, or Grace Mirabella, who led it from 1971 to 1988. Chase’s period came much earlier and covered major changes in American fashion publishing, including the rise of ready-to-wear clothing and the growing importance of photography.