Dame Anna Wintour is stepping down as the editor-in-chief of American Vogue

Wintour - who is one of the most well-known figures in the fashion industry - will continue as the global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer for Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue magazine.

During the staff meeting, Wintour explained that she wants to "help the next generation of editors storm the field with their own ideas".

According to Vogue, the editor said: "Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one's work.

"When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine.

"Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be."

Wintour joined American Vogue in 1988, following a three-year tenure as the editor of the British edition of the magazine.

The London-born media ex ecutive is widely credited with transforming the magazine, embracing a blend of high-end fashion and more affordable styles.

Wintour has also been in charge of the Met Gala since 1995, and she's helped the star-studded event to raise more than $300 million during her time in the role.

Wintour was awarded a damehood earlier this year. And after attending the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, Wintour insisted that she had no plans to retire.

She said at the time: "The last time I was here, the Queen gave me a medal and we both agreed that we had been doing our job a very long time, and then this morning His Majesty asked me if this meant I was going to stop working, and I said firmly, no."