Why Chloe Malle’s appointment marks a turning point for Vogue

American Vogue is entering a new chapter. After nearly four decades at the helm, Dame Anna Wintour announced in June 2025 that she would step back as editor-in-chief, though she will retain senior roles at Condé Nast. Taking her place is Chloe Malle, a longtime Vogue insider who has spent 14 years shaping the magazine’s digital presence, events, and editorial tone.

The appointment is more than a changing of the guard—it represents Vogue’s attempt to evolve for a generation that consumes fashion not just in glossy spreads but across podcasts, Instagram reels, and TikTok clips.

Who is Chloe Malle?

Chloe Malle, 39, is the daughter of actress Candice Bergen and acclaimed French filmmaker Louis Malle. She spent her early years between Paris and Los Angeles before moving to New York, where she built her career in media.

Her path to Vogue wasn’t straightforward. She began covering real estate at the New York Observer before freelancing for Condé Nast publications. In 2011, at age 25, she officially joined Vogue as social editor. At the time, she admitted that fashion wasn’t her primary passion. “I wanted to be a writer more than an editor, but I was so seduced by the Vogue machine that I couldn’t resist,” she told the BBC in a 2013 interview.

How Chloe Malle rose inside Vogue

Over more than a decade, Malle’s influence grew steadily. Some key milestones include:

• 2011 – Joined Vogue full-time as social editor.
• 2016–2019 – Expanded into digital editorial projects, including Vogue.com.
• 2020s – Took leadership of The Run Through, Vogue’s official podcast, building its reputation as a space for insider conversations on culture and style.
• 2022 – Managed the exclusive Vogue photoshoot of Naomi Biden’s White House wedding.
• 2023 – Oversaw an interview with Lauren Sánchez ahead of her wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

By combining editorial judgment with a strong digital instinct, Malle positioned herself as a bridge between Wintour’s print-first era and Vogue’s multimedia future.

What Anna Wintour said about her successor

Wintour, who has transformed Vogue into a cultural powerhouse since 1988, praised Malle as someone who could balance tradition and innovation. “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,” Wintour said in Vogue’s official announcement.

The endorsement matters: Malle will still work down the hall from her predecessor, who remains Condé Nast’s chief content officer, overseeing Vogue, GQ, Wired, and Tatler.

What Chloe Malle brings to Vogue’s future

Malle’s track record suggests she will focus on making Vogue relevant across platforms. Expect:

• Greater emphasis on digital-first storytelling – video, audio, and interactive features.
• A stronger political and cultural voice – Malle has openly aligned with Democratic causes, marched in the 2017 Women’s March, and voiced frustration on her podcast over Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election.
• Expanded celebrity access – her editorial work already includes high-profile divs from Naomi Biden to Sánchez, strengthening Vogue’s cultural cachet.

How her background shapes her approach

Unlike Wintour, whose signature bob and sunglasses came to define her aura of authority, Malle projects a different kind of leadership. She is less associated with power dressing and more with storytelling. Her childhood in a creative family—Hollywood on one side, French cinema on the other—instilled both cultural sophistication and narrative instinct.

This may shift Vogue’s editorial tone from Wintour’s reputation for exclusivity toward a slightly more approachable, narrative-driven style of fashion journalism.

Why this leadership change matters in fashion and media

Fashion magazines are no longer the gatekeepers they once were. Instagram influencers, TikTok creators, and direct-to-consumer brands now compete for cultural influence. For Vogue to stay relevant, it must reinvent itself as more than a magazine—it needs to function as a cross-platform cultural authority.

Malle’s appointment signals that Condé Nast recognizes this. By elevating someone deeply experienced in digital but still molded by Wintour’s mentorship, the publisher is betting on continuity with evolution.

FAQs about Chloe Malle and Anna Wintour’s transition

Who is Chloe Malle?

She is the incoming top editor of American Vogue, previously social editor and podcast host at the magazine.

When did Anna Wintour step down?

She announced her decision in June 2025, after 37 years as editor-in-chief.

What roles will Wintour retain?

She will remain Condé Nast’s chief content officer, continuing to oversee Vogue and other titles.

What are Chloe Malle’s notable Vogue projects?

She managed Naomi Biden’s 2022 White House wedding photoshoot and interviewed Lauren Sánchez in 2023.

Has Malle been involved in political activism?

Yes. She has supported Democratic causes, marched in the Women’s March, and discussed political disappointments on her podcast.

TL;DR

Chloe Malle, daughter of Candice Bergen and Louis Malle, will succeed Anna Wintour as editor-in-chief of American Vogue. After 14 years rising through the ranks, Malle represents a generational shift for the iconic magazine, blending digital-first vision with Wintour’s mentorship. While Wintour remains in a senior role at Condé Nast, Malle’s leadership signals Vogue’s push to stay relevant in an era defined by social media and cultural crossover.