Coddington emerged as the unsung hero in the 2009 behind-the-scenes documentary "The September Issue" about the magazine and fashion industries; a champion of art over commerce, talent over celebrity.

Last year, Wintour threw Coddington a 70th-birthday bash. Guests included Marc Jacobs, Carey Mulligan, Seth Meyers and "tons of designers from New York and Europe; all my favorite models."

"Anna loves to give a party," says Coddington. "Do I like getting one? Yes and no. It's a nightmare the five minutes before you go in, but it's very flattering."

It was suggested to her — on more than a few occasions — that she "was at that age to write her memoirs." So, she did. She also drew scores of pencil-drawing illustrations that steal the show from photographs taken by Bruce Weber, Ellen von Unwerth, Steven Meisel and Annie Leibovitz.

AP: Did you tell everyone who's in the book that these stories would be in print?

Coddington: I'm good at staying in touch. I still talk to all my ex-husbands and most of my ex-boyfriends.

AP: Are all your friends in fashion?

Coddington: I've always recognized the major influences in my life, and they are mostly in the business. It's so interwoven. I don't stop at five o'clock and put on a different hat.

AP: Who are the best models to work with?

Coddington: Everyone is so eager to move on to the next girl now, but THE supermodels (of the '80s and '90s) — brats that they might have been — had personality and were really good models. Now they're all too beautiful, too perfect, and they're little girls.

AP: How did you manage to dress in off-the-runway YSL back in the '60s and '70s?

Coddington: I think they gave me a big discount and I probably spent all my money there, but I have never owned couture. I probably don't need to now because they don't have my size, and I don't lead that life, anyway.

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