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Chloe Malle has been named editorial lead of American Vogue. The self-confessed ‘nepo baby’ marks a new chapter for a former fashion mecca that seems to have lost its way.
Anna Wintour stepped back from American Vogue in July of this year, signalling a seismic shift for the editorial powerhouse amidst growing criticism around its political stance and commercial priorities.
Wintour had been at the helm for 37 years, and her departure – both sudden and relatively understated – was a shock to the industry. Since then, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive as fashion fanatics search for clues as to who would replace her.
Well, the biggest job in fashion has finally been filled. Vogue announced this week that editorial staffer Chloe Malle would be stepping into Wintour’s shoes (or at least, heading the editorial arm of the brand – her formal title is ‘head of editorial content’ rather the ‘editor-in-chief’, and she’ll likely sit beneath Wintour who continues as Condé Nast’s Chief Content Officer).
Malle is an unlikely choice. At 39 she’s considerably younger than her predecessor and despite having worked at Vogue – as well as several prominent fashion media outlets – and hosting the ‘Run-Through with Vogue’ podcast alongside British Vogue head Chioma Nnadi, she’s hardly a house-hold name.
The same can’t be said about her parents. Malle’s mother is actor Candice Bergen (who, in a real full-circle moment, played Vogue’s editor-in-chief in Sex and the City), and her father is French screenwriter Louis Malle.
Since her new role was announced, Malle’s family tree has been the topic of much debate and backlash. Some are unsurprised at the decision to place a white, wealthy woman in fashion’s biggest office – others, simply disappointed.
But Malle’s sizable promotion comes during a turbulent time for Vogue, fashion, and America at large.
Anna Wintour stepped down just days before the American Vogue cover was revealed to feature Lauren Sanchez ahead of her wedding to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. At the time, the couple were being heavily criticized for their opulent lifestyle and exorbitantly lavish nuptials amid economic downturn.
For a media outlet like Vogue, which has long fancied itself both a fashion pioneer and disruptive socio-political commentator, the decision to feature Sanchez was undeniably out of step. So much so, that many speculated Wintour’s departure had something to do with it.
