CHLOE MALLE: SUCCESSOR TO THE FASHION THRONE?

The fashion world rarely witnesses a changing of the guard that electrifies the entire industry. Yet the announcement of 

Chloe Malle’s appointment as Head of Editorial Content at American Vogue spread like wildfire. Why? Because for many, she is seen as the potential heir to none other than Anna Wintour an icon, a legend, and for some, the very embodiment of editorial absolutism.

But Malle is not a figure who appeared out of nowhere. Her name has always carried the weight of artistic legacy. Her mother is Candice Bergen, the unforgettable actress and icon of American popular culture, while her father was Louis Malle, the French filmmaker whose works shaped generations. Chloe grew up at the intersection of two worlds: cinematic glamour and European intellectual melancholy. Choosing a career rooted in writing and editing was neither coincidence nor caprice it was a natural extension of her family tradition, interwoven with a fascination for both word and image.

Malle first came to wider public attention as the co-host of the podcast “The Run-Through with Vogue”, where together with Jo Elison she unveiled the inner workings of the fashion industry, analyzed emerging trends, and held conversations with cultural and media powerhouses. The format proved an ideal space for her voice: at once erudite and refined, yet open to dialogue and fresh perspectives.

Within the editorial sphere, Chloe has earned a reputation as pragmatic, rational, and effective a leader capable of making decisions with surgical precision. She has an uncanny ability to balance the legacy of Vogue its aura, mythology, and cultural stature with the urgent demands of digital transformation, which continues to redefine the very fabric of media. It is precisely this ability to reconcile tradition with modernity that makes many see her not just as an editor, but as an architect of the magazine’s future.

FROM VOGUE.COM TO AMERICAN VOGUE

For years, Chloe Malle worked at Vogue.com, steadily building her standing within the brand. In a fashion world notorious for its ruthlessness, she distinguished herself with subtlety and intellect. Her writing carried a literary flair, while simultaneously capturing the pulse of contemporary culture. This rare combination makes her today an almost natural choice to take the reins of America’s fashion bible.

According to reports from Puck, the decision to appoint Malle came directly from Anna Wintour herself. It is a significant gesture for although Wintour remains Global Editorial Director and Chief Content Officer at Condé Nast, her personnel choices are always interpreted as deeply strategic moves. One cannot help but feel she is slowly laying the groundwork for a future succession.

IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE WINTOUR ERA?

For more than three decades, Anna Wintour has been the face of Vogue. Her signature dark sunglasses, razor-sharp bob, and cool gaze have become emblems of power in fashion. Yet even the most formidable icons must one day pass the torch. The nomination of Chloe Malle is not merely an operational decision it is a symbol. Vogue is opening itself to new voices, new strategies, and new narratives.

The question on everyone’s mind now is this: Will Malle continue Wintour’s legacy, or will she chart a radical new course? Her career so far suggests she has the skill to balance tradition with innovation. Perhaps within that equilibrium lies the key to Vogue’s next chapter.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR VOGUE?

The future of American Vogue largely depends on the vision Chloe Malle chooses to implement. The fashion world today is in a state of upheaval on one hand, obsessed with inclusivity and diversity; on the other, increasingly shaped by TikTok and digital creators who often wield more influence than legacy magazines. The traditional print model is losing ground, while digital storytelling demands bold reinvention.

It is possible that under Malle’s leadership, Vogue will become more hybrid a place where masterful editorial craft meets the immediacy of social media. Equally possible is that it will preserve its aura of exclusivity, only reimagined in a more literary, culturally resonant form.

One thing is certain: in the shadow of Anna Wintour’s sunglasses, a new figure has emerged one who may set a fresh tempo for the world’s most influential fashion magazine. And we, the audience, are witnesses to the birth of that story.

Photos: Instagram @chloemalle, Vogue