Chloe Malle has been appointed the new editor-in-chief of American Vogue, succeeding Dame Anna Wintour, who stepped back from the role earlier this year after nearly four decades at the helm.
A new chapter for Vogue
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The 39-year-old has spent 14 years rising through the ranks at the fashion powerhouse, most recently serving as editor of Vogue.com and co-hosting its podcast The Run Through. Her appointment marks the start of a new era for the magazine, one of the most influential titles in fashion publishing.
In a statement, Malle reflected on her career at Vogue, saying: “Vogue has already shaped who I am. Now I’m excited at the prospect of shaping Vogue.”
Dame Anna, who first took on the editor-in-chief role in 1988, praised her successor for striking the balance between honouring the magazine’s legacy and embracing its future. “I am so excited to continue working with her, as her mentor but also as her student, while she leads us and our audiences where we’ve never been before,” she said.
From social editor to the top
Malle, the daughter of actress Candice Bergen and late French filmmaker Louis Malle, grew up between Paris and Los Angeles. She joined Vogue in 2011 as a social editor at the age of 25, after starting her career as a real estate reporter for the New York Observer and working as a freelance writer.
Despite initially admitting that fashion was not her main passion, Malle has since become one of the most prominent figures within the organisation. She was behind some of the magazine’s most high-profile projects, including the exclusive photoshoot with Naomi Biden at her White House wedding in 2022 and an interview with Lauren Sánchez ahead of her marriage to Jeff Bezos.
Political voice and public presence
Like Wintour, Malle has not shied away from engaging with politics. She took part in the 2017 Women’s March, has been vocal about supporting Democratic candidates and used her podcast to discuss her disappointment following Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024.
Her willingness to bring social and political issues into Vogue’s wider conversation mirrors Wintour’s own influence, suggesting continuity alongside change at the top of the masthead.
Wintour remains in the picture
Although stepping back as editor-in-chief, Dame Anna will retain her powerful position within Condé Nast as chief content officer, overseeing the company’s global editorial strategy, which includes titles such as GQ, Wired and Tatler.
At 75, she has made clear that she has no plans to leave Vogue’s headquarters entirely. “I’m very happy she’s down the hall with her Clarice Cliff pottery,” Malle joked in a recent interview, acknowledging the unique dynamic of taking over while Wintour remains present.
Industry insiders say Malle is well placed to carry the magazine forward, but with Wintour still deeply embedded in its leadership, the question remains how much freedom the new editor-in-chief will have to shape Vogue in her own image.
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Featured Image: Instagram | @voguemagazine
