Anastasia Vartanian: Using Camp to Critique Couture

Anastasia Vartanian started her career with a simple premise: she was bored. While sitting through a university degree she didn’t really care about, the British-Lebanese-Armenian-Polish writer and journalist needed an outlet. That outlet became her Instagram page @fatannawintour, built on the core belief that fashion is entertainment.

“I’ve always known that I loved writing, I just didn’t know what to write about,” admits the London-based commentator. Fashion, she says, is a lens through which you can talk about anything: “The stunning visuals, the larger-than-life characters and, of course, the very real issues that are embedded into the industry.”

Vartanian’s voice is powered by powerful contrasts. Her content is driven by curiosity and a love for learning, but also a sense of humour and “love for all things camp and theatrical”. She draws inspiration from writers who look at the industry from a business and storytelling perspective, like Teri Agins and Dana Thomas, shunning the “fluffy” fashion writing that doesn’t really contribute to culture.

She sees her mission as challenging fashion’s pretentiousness. “I want fashion to be less self-serious. As everyone always says, we’re not saving lives!” she asserts. “To be able to laugh at something or poke fun at it is to challenge its power.” For her, the political is inherent to the aesthetic. “People can say fashion isn’t political, but it really is. From the exploitation of workers to the fact that it’s a machine that runs on overconsumption, how can anyone say fashion is art, but isn’t political?” 

This commitment to honesty extends beyond the ethical failings of fashion. “It’s wild that, sometimes, you’re not supposed to say things that are true because of commercial obligations or industry politics—just look at how many people were worried to speak up on the genocide in Gaza.”

Having grown up on Tumblr, TikTok, and YouTube (citing influences like Luke Meagher and Kim Russell), Vartanian successfully translated her online irreverence into established journalism. After finishing her Fashion Journalism studies at Central Saint Martins last year, she now writes for titles like Glamour UK, Polyester Zine, and Dazed. For her final project, she was inspired by Giulia Mensitieri’s The Most Beautiful Job in the World, a critical and honest look at fashion professionals from the perspective of an anthropologist.

This year has marked a flood of milestones, her studio shoot with Dazed and first press trip included. “As I write this, I’m on my way back from Ljubljana Fashion Week!” she beams. But her favourite feeling remains when a topic resonates, confirming that her critical takes are shared by an audience keen to see the spectacle without ignoring the substance.

Looking ahead, Vartanian hopes to expand her platform into long-form content – Substack, YouTube, a podcast – to connect with her audience outside the endless scroll. Ultimately, her goal isn’t defined by a job title, but by negative space. She is committed to not adding to the noise, using her sharp insight to demand honesty instead.