18 Facts About Suzy Menkes

Suzy Peta Menkes was born on 24 December 1943 and is a British journalist and fashion critic.

Formerly the fashion editor for the International Herald Tribune, Menkes served as editor, Vogue International, for 25 international editions of Vogue online until October 2020.

Suzy Menkes was educated at Brighton and Hove High School.

Suzy Menkes's landlady gained her entry into her first couture show at Nina Ricci, which sparked her interest in high fashion.

Suzy Menkes professes to admire "good journalism", especially the work of Prudence Glynn at the Times of London and Eugenia Sheppard of the New York Herald Tribune.

At age 24, Suzy Menkes took her first job as a fashion journalist at the London Evening Standard, where she had been recruited by editor Charles Wintour, who became her mentor.

Suzy Menkes really made me understand that as a fashion editor, or any other role at the paper, you are conduit to the public.

Suzy Menkes left The Times and joined The Independent in 1987, which she later left for the International Herald Tribune in 1988.

Suzy Menkes was responsible for organising Conde Nast International's annual Luxury Conference.

Suzy Menkes is widowed and has three sons, three granddaughters and three grandsons.

Suzy Menkes holds the Legion d'Honneur in France and a British OBE.

Suzy Menkes's trademark is her pompadour, an exaggerated hairstyle that was first popularised by Madame de Pompadour, the favourite mistress of King Louis XV, in the 18th century.

Suzy Menkes has been nicknamed "Samurai Suzy" by the fashion press for her frankness and taste for fashion maximalism.

Unlike many of her fashion counterparts, Suzy Menkes systematically refuses gifts from fashion brands.

Suzy Menkes openly criticised what she called "The Circus of Fashion" in an article issued in The New York Times in 2013, denouncing the attitude of bloggers and stars followers of street style dressed like "peacocks" to draw the attention of photographers during Fashion week.

Accessible and curious, Suzy Menkes has a reputation for being eager to discuss fashion with young designers.

In fashion circles, Suzy Menkes is known for her sharp critiques, both positive and negative.

Suzy Menkes is known for having fostered Nicolas Ghesquiere as a fledgling designer, and for predicting the departure of Martin Margiela from Maison Martin Margiela.