The fashion world is buzzing! Chloe Malle has stepped into a huge new role as Vogue‘s Head of Editorial Content. This move comes after Anna Wintour, a legend in the industry, shifted her focus from editing the U.S. magazine earlier this year. Don’t worry, Wintour isn’t going anywhere; she’s now busy leading Vogue globally and heading up content for Condé Nast.
Malle, who is 39, shared her excitement in a statement published on Vogue.com on Tuesday, September 2. She said that fashion and media are changing super fast, and she’s thrilled to be a part of it. Malle added that she feels incredibly lucky to still have Anna Wintour right nearby as her mentor. It’s clear she admires Wintour a great deal.
Malle has spent her entire career at Vogue, working across all areas, from print pages to digital stories, audio, video, events, and social media. She truly loves her job, the stories they create, and the team of editors who make it all happen. Malle mentioned that Vogue has already shaped who she is, and now she’s eager to help shape the magazine’s future.
Wintour, who is 75, also spoke about her decision to put Malle in this important position. She explained to her team on Tuesday that she needed someone strong to lead Vogue in the U.S. This would let Wintour concentrate more on growing Vogue worldwide, expanding its reach, and handling big events like the Met Gala and Vogue World. Wintour knew this was a big chance to get it right.
Wintour also made it clear that Vogue must stay ahead of trends, always setting new standards in a fast-changing world. She praised Malle’s past work, saying Chloe has repeatedly shown she knows how to honor Vogue U.S.’s rich history while also pushing it toward what’s new. Wintour is excited to keep working with her, learning from Malle even while mentoring her, as they guide readers to fresh places.
Wintour believes Malle has been a secret weapon for Vogue in spotting fashion trends for a long time. However, she’s not just focused on the fashion bubble. Like the best designers, Malle understands the bigger picture. She sees how fashion plays a part in modern life, not just on the runway. While Malle is no stranger to glitzy red carpets, her real talent lies in original ideas and plain hard work.
Malle first joined Vogue in 2011 as a social media editor. Later, she became an editor for several of the magazine’s books. From 2016 to 2023, she served as a contributing editor. Her writing has also appeared in other major publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, and WWD.
The news about Malle’s promotion came about two months after reports in June mentioned Wintour’s shift from her U.S. editor-in-chief role. WWD reported that Wintour told her team about stepping down from that specific post. According to the Daily Mail, Wintour continues to serve as Vogue‘s Global Editorial Director and Condé Nast’s Global Chief Content Officer. So, her influence is still very strong.
Over nearly four decades at Vogue, Wintour completely changed the magazine. She made it about more than just fashion, bringing in pop culture, art, technology, and more. Her very first celebrity cover featured Madonna in 1989, just a year after she started. Since then, she’s put huge stars like Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears on the cover.
In 2012, Wintour looked back at her very first Vogue cover, which starred Israeli model Michaela Bercu. Bercu, now 55, wore a fancy Christian Lacroix sweater with a sparkling cross on the chest. She posed on a street. Wintour loved the picture so much she made it the cover, not knowing it would become a big talking point. People and critics had many ideas about what the image meant, some thinking it was a religious statement or a mix of fancy and everyday fashion.
But Wintour wrote on the magazine’s website that none of those ideas were true. She simply saw the photo and felt it showed that times were changing. And, as she put it, you can’t ask for more than that from a cover picture.
Wintour also plays a crucial role in the annual Met Gala. She helps choose the theme, organizes the guest list, co-chairs the event with celebrities, and oversees the entire glamorous evening.