Mirabella served as the editor of Vogue from 1971 to 1988, preceding the current editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. Her career in the fashion industry began as an assistant in the merchandising department, later transitioning to the editorial staff, where she worked alongside the legendary Diana Vreeland and eventually succeeded her upon Vreeland’s retirement.
Following her tenure at Vogue, Mirabella launched her own women’s magazine, «Mirabella,» which remained in circulation until the year 2000. Prior to her publishing career, she gained experience in fashion through positions at Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Mirabella is often credited with bringing a more practical and inclusive approach to Vogue, embracing the changing roles of women in the workforce. Under her leadership, Vogue’s circulation reportedly tripled from 400,000 in 1971 to over 1.2 million by 1988, reflecting her impact on the magazine.
Anna Wintour, the current editor-in-chief of Vogue, paid tribute to Mirabella, recognizing her significant contributions to the magazine and the fashion industry as a whole. Mirabella’s legacy includes showcasing renowned photographers like Helmut Newton and championing American designers such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Geoffrey Beene.
Mirabella is survived by her stepsons Anthony and Christopher Cahan, as well as seven step-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.