British Vogue’s Sarah Harris to Move Into a New Role at the Magazine
Updated June 25 at 8:30 p.m. GMT
LONDON — The tectonic plates at Condé Nast continue to shift.
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Sarah Harris, the global network lead and European deputy editor for Vogue, is stepping into a new role as editor at large after returning from maternity leave, WWD has learned.
In 2018, she was promoted from her role as fashion features director to deputy editor under then-editor in chief, Edward Enninful, who left his post last December.
Chioma Nnadi was appointed head of editorial content at British Vogue after Harris had left for maternity leave last summer.
“It felt like the right time for me [to leave] and it enables me to still have input at Vogue across its many facets while pursuing other projects and opportunities,” Harris said in an interview.
“Sarah Harris has been a wonderful international colleague to me for many years, so I am very familiar with her talent, eye for a story and fashion knowledge, which makes it a privilege to continue working closely with her in this new editor at large role, which will be across British Vogue’s magazine and online offering,” Nnadi said in a statement to WWD.
Harris’ magazine responsibilities were split between Vogue employees, Julia Hobbs and Laura Hawkins in the role of acting European fashion features directors.
Hobbs will remain in the role with the new title of fashion features director and will also hold the title of senior fashion projects editor at Vogue Club, a role she was simultaneously doing while covering for Harris. Hawkins will go back to her previous position as fashion features editor.
According to Nnadi, Hobbs will be “overseeing long and short form work, as well as continuing her work with Vogue Club,” and will be working on print, digital and contributing to British Vogue’s “social presence, where she’s led the charge on camera for some of our most viral fashion moments in recent months.”
Funmi Fetto, a previous contributing beauty editor under Enninful will be rejoining the team under Nnadi as style editor.
“Funmi is an incredibly talented editor and writer who has contributed to and worked at a range of leading titles including British Vogue for many years, so I’m very excited to see what she brings to this role,” Nnadi said.
All Condé Nast employees’ contracts are changing to reflect those of their U.S. counterparts as the media company tightens its sails and prohibits staff in taking part in paid partnerships that don’t benefit the magazine.
Harris has accumulated more than 280,000 followers on Instagram and in the last decade has become one of British Vogue’s star editors on the street style scene.
She’s also someone that brands want to align with. On Instagram, she has produced sponsored content for Prada, Rodial, Piaget, Gucci and more.
As the apple moves further away from the tree, Harris will be free to pursue new ventures without the shackles of Condé Nast’s rules.
Her new role will allow her to “build on those brand relationships and find ways of collaborating and partnering with them, and yes it also gives me the opportunity to explore writing for other titles, alongside Vogue and working with Chioma,” she said.
She joined British Vogue in 2003 as fashion features editor, and had previously worked at WWD in London.
Harris was a running candidate for Nnadi’s role along with Mark Holgate, the fashion news director of American Vogue, and Mark Guiducci, creative editorial director, who oversaw Vogue World: London.
Under Enninful, Harris oversaw all fashion features and worked closely with him, in addition to working with senior editors to commission stories. She also had a bigger presence at shows as well as industry and Vogue-related events.
Her career highlights at British Vogue have included interviewing “Linda Evangelista for the cover. I grew up pouring over her images, likewise, featuring Naomi [Campbell] with her baby daughter on the cover; also, bringing Vogue to life via global events like Vogue World and Forces of Fashion.”
She added that reimagining what Vogue could be with Enninful during the pandemic was certainly a memorable moment. “The series of arresting covers and stories really challenged what Vogue is — and can be, under the most extreme circumstances,” she said.
Harris was the first deputy editor under Enninful. The role was previously held by Emily Sheffield, who had worked under former editor in chief Alexandra Shulman.
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