Lauren Weisberger ’99 is probably my favorite Cornell alumna. She worked at Vogue, wrote a New York Times bestseller, and had her wildly successful novel The Devil Wears Prada turned into a hit movie.

In Weisberger’s book and movie, Miranda Priestly is a scary editor-in-chief of Runway magazine quick to berate her assistant Andy Sachs. Miranda sends Andy on the most ridiculous of tasks — my personal favorite being when Andy was instructed to get an advance copy of a Harry Potter book.

Yet despite Miranda’s bullying, it must be noted that she is a powerful, smart and decisive editor-in-chief.

News flash to any fashion fans who don’t know: Miranda is based off Anna Wintour (despite what Anna may say).

Anna Wintour, again for those who don’t know, is the editor-in-chief of Vogue and the star of the new documentary The September Issue, a film about Vogue’s September 2007 issue, its largest issue ever.

As soon as I heard about this movie I was dying to see it. The inner workings of a monthly magazine and a behind-the-scenes look at the most powerful woman in fashion? Fascinating. So when I was given the opportunity to see the movie on my last day at my summer internship, I headed right out the door.

Anna Wintour’s presence was immediately fascinating. One Vogue staffer remarked that she didn’t waste her time talking to people she didn’t need to talk to as a rationale for her outwardly cold demeanor. A European journalist asked her about her ice queen reputation, and Anna quipped something like “well, it is very cold here today” — and then she briskly walked away.

But her presence translated into power. Designers presented her with private shows where she’d quietly watch their months of hard work and dedication behind her large sunglasses. And with one subtle suggestion not to show something on the runway, the designers would remove clothing from their collections. Her control is almost mesmerizing.

Grace Coddington is Anna’s second in command. Her job creates the beauty in Vogue, and therefore fascinated me. Grace, a former model, meticulously designs the shoots to showcase all the high fashion in Vogue. Grace would dress the girls and design the shoot. Her work would turn into fantastic photographs for the magazine (that Anna had the final approval on).

Having read Weisberger’s novel and articles on the Vogue ice queen, I was afraid of even the idea of Anna Wintour. But this movie personalized Anna. In one of my favorite scenes, Anna and her daughter Bee sit in the magazine room in one of their homes, talking about photos. This short scene melts some of Anna’s public icy persona.

In the world we live in, it is all too common for powerful women to be labeled bitches or ice queens, simply because they are good at their job and they know what they want. Anna knows what she wants. For those fashion fans that will take the opportunity to watch this movie, I think they will be surprised. I did not leave the theater feeling as intimidated by Anna’s attitude, only her power.

And if that doesn’t draw you in, there is a hilarious scene in the middle of the movie that should — picture Vogue editor-at-large André Leon Talley playing tennis (an activity recommended by Anna, who encouraged Andre to lose weight) wearing a very large and obnoxious Louis Vuitton towel.