When Anna Wintour announced in June of 2025 that she would be stepping back as Vogue’s editor-in-chief, the declaration set off months of critical speculation as to who could possibly garner enough merit to fill her shoes. Few roles in the fashion industry carry more weight, and after nearly 38 years at the helm of Vogue’s editorial ship, Wintour’s successor would undoubtedly require the same signature grit and innovation that Wintour has cemented her legacy with.
On September 2, Wintour formally attached a name to her heir—Chloe Malle, the longtime Vogue.com editor and co-host of The Run-Through podcast. Malle will become the Head of Editorial Content for the U.S. Vogue, overseeing both print and digital publications from this upcoming publishing season—onward.
Wintour herself isn’t entirely departing, of course. At 75, she remains Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast’s global chief content officer, roles that keep her deeply entwined and influential in the brand and its esteemed, high profile events, from the annual Met Gala to Vogue World. But for the first time in 37 years, the daily leadership and command of the U.S. magazine belongs to another ambitious writer.
Malle, 39, is no newcomer to the industry. She originally joined Vogue in 2011 as a weddings and social editor, later becoming a contributing editor, and in 2023 was appointed head editor of Vogue.com. Under her direction, the site doubled its direct traffic and expanded with features like the “Vogue Vintage Guide” and live event coverage.
Her appointment has not been without backlash, though, as skeptics have discovered that Malle is the daughter of actress and former cover girl, Candice Bergen; with her father being wealthy filmmaker Louis Malle—who himself was the heir to a significant sugar fortune. Some critics view her promotion as another example of nepotism in elite cultural industries, and a loss for passionate writers who don’t come from a family with solid ties to the industry. Still, her track record within the magazine suggests she was more than just a nepo-hire.
When provoked to convey her thoughts on the matter, Malle herself described the future of her esteemed promotion as both invigorating and formidable. “Fashion and media are both evolving at breakneck speed, and I am so thrilled — and awed — to be part of that,” she expressed in a Vogue exclusive. “I also feel incredibly fortunate to still have Anna just down the hall as my mentor.”
Even in the wake of criticism for the pick, Anna Wintour has maintained her appraisal of Malle’s talent and merit. Specifically, Wintour points to Malle’s ability to balance the weight of the magazine’s legacy with fresh innovation for the brand, calling her “an editor with a strong sense of how to evolve the brand without losing its authority.” Coming from a figure who is widely regarded as the most powerful force in the fashion industry, Wintour’s boastful endorsement carries sizable weight when gauging Malle’s credentials.
Though Vogue is universally considered to be the fashion industry’s Bible, Anna Wintour isn’t quite regarded as its Genesis. Ever since the publication’s founding in 1892, Vogue has been consistently pioneered by editors who have individually left their own signature marks: Harper’s Bazaar alumna Diana Vreeland, serving from 1963 to 1971, and New Jersey Native Grace Mirabella, serving from 1971 to 1988, with Anna Wintour taking charge from 1988 onward. Malle now steps into that same rich history at such a pivotal moment—when traditional media is held to unprecedentedly higher standards. With the rise of digital fashion coverage, Vogue and similar traditional publications are forced to keep up with the times while still delivering their classic, long-established printed magazines.
While this promotion is certainly an honor for the 39 year old Vogue alumna, the pressure is on for her to prove her rightful place as Anna Wintour’s heir and Vogue’s new H.B.I.C., especially while dodging the incoming onslaught of nepo baby allegations.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vogue-chloe-malle-anna-wintour-successor-editor-in-chief/
https://www.vogue.com/article/chloe-malle-announced-as-vogue-us-new-head-of-editorial-content
https://www.eonline.com/news/1421078/anna-wintour-taps-chloe-malle-as-vogue-successor-what-to-know
Photo Credits:
Anna Wintour Vogue Mexico Photo — Sebastian Cabrices
Chloe Malle Vogue Photo — Jeff Henrikson
Diana Vreeland Photo — Horst P. Horst
Grace Mirabella Photo — Horst P. Horst
Chloe Malle Photo — Amir Hamja
Anna Wintour Hudson Theater Photo — CJ Rivera/Invision/AP
