In a move that both honors tradition and signals change at one of fashion’s most iconic institutions, Vogue announced on September 2, 2025, that Chloe Malle will step into the newly created role of Head of Editorial Content for its U.S. edition. The shakeup comes after weeks of speculation and marks the end of an era defined by Anna Wintour’s nearly four-decade reign as editor-in-chief—a title that, notably, is being retired in favor of a more modern editorial structure.
Yet, for all the buzz about succession, Anna Wintour isn’t going far. At 75, she remains Condé Nast’s chief content officer and global editorial director for Vogue and its 27 international editions. Wintour’s influence will continue to shape the magazine’s vision, but the day-to-day editorial and creative reins now belong to Malle, who will report directly to her. “At a moment of change both within fashion and outside it, Vogue must continue to be both the standard-bearer and the boundary-pushing leader,” Wintour stated in her official announcement, as reported by AP News.
Chloe Malle, 39, is no stranger to the Vogue universe. The daughter of acclaimed actress Candice Bergen and the late French director Louis Malle, she grew up in Los Angeles before graduating from Brown University. Malle’s career began with property writing at the New York Observer, and she later contributed to the New York Times, Marie Claire, Wall Street Journal, and Architectural Digest. But it’s her 14-year journey at Vogue that has truly defined her professional life.
Starting as the magazine’s social editor in 2011, Malle quickly demonstrated a knack for storytelling and a keen sense for the evolving interests of Vogue’s audience. She became a contributing editor in 2016 and, by 2023, was steering all digital content as editor of Vogue.com. Under her leadership, the site’s traffic doubled, now drawing 14.5 million unique visitors monthly—a testament to her ability to connect with readers across platforms. “I’ve spent my career at Vogue, working in roles across every platform—from print to digital, audio to video, events and social media. I love the title, I love the content we create, and I love the editors who create it,” Malle said in her statement to the magazine, as cited by TooFab.
Malle’s appointment comes at a time of broader change within Condé Nast, which has been restructuring its editorial leadership globally. The traditional editor-in-chief role has been phased out in favor of heads of editorial content who report to global editorial directors—an approach already adopted by other Condé Nast titles like Vanity Fair. This new structure reflects the realities of a rapidly changing media landscape, where cross-platform engagement and digital innovation are paramount.
Wintour’s decision to relinquish her editor-in-chief title was first shared with staff in late June, sparking a flurry of speculation about her successor. Names like Eva Chen, Nicole Phelps, Sara Moonves, Mark Holgate, Chioma Nnadi, and Leah Faye Cooper were all floated as potential candidates. But Malle, a frontrunner from the start, ultimately secured the coveted position. “Chloe has proven often that she can find the balance between American Vogue’s long, singular history and its future on the front lines of the new,” Wintour said in her statement. “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.”
For Malle, this is more than just a job—it’s a calling. “Vogue has already shaped who I am, now I’m excited at the prospect of shaping Vogue,” she said upon her appointment. She’s been outspoken about her admiration for Wintour’s directness and vision, telling The Independent, “I actually love working with Anna, because I love someone telling me exactly what needs to be done and exactly what she thinks about something. There’s no indecision. There’s no ambiguity.”
Her experience at Vogue is as varied as it is impressive. Malle co-hosts the magazine’s weekly podcast, The Run-Through, and has overseen exclusive coverage of major events, from Angel Reese’s WNBA draft to the highly publicized wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice. She’s commissioned deeply personal essays, interviewed literary luminaries like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and even launched Vogue.com’s whimsical canine feature, “Dogue.” Her editorial style is described by colleagues as both original and warm—a combination that’s earned her respect and affection throughout the industry.
Wintour herself acknowledged the significance of this transition, describing Malle as “a voracious, engaged journalist with an intuition for women’s changing interests now—and her eye for the definitive image is exceptional.” She also highlighted Malle’s ability to keep her creative imagination and sense of fun intact, even after countless late nights at Condé Nast. “Her desk is a place of guidance and contagious joy,” Wintour remarked, as quoted by National World.
The changing of the guard at Vogue comes just ahead of New York Fashion Week and coincides with the Venice Film Festival, which this year features a documentary about Malle’s late father. It’s a poignant moment for Malle, whose mother once famously played a Vogue editor-in-chief on “Sex and the City”—a role with more than a hint of Wintour’s legendary persona.
On the personal front, Malle is married to Graham Albert, with whom she shares two children. She’s been candid about the juggling act of motherhood and a demanding career, often referencing her young family as a grounding force amid the whirlwind of fashion and media.
As for Wintour, she’s far from stepping out of the spotlight. In addition to her ongoing global responsibilities, she’ll continue to helm the annual Met Gala—now a global cultural phenomenon—and remain involved in Vogue World, the magazine’s traveling fashion and cultural event launched in 2022. “It goes without saying,” Wintour joked earlier this summer, “that I plan to remain Vogue’s tennis and theater editor in perpetuity.”
For a publication founded as a society journal 134 years ago and transformed by Wintour into the fashion bible it is today, the appointment of Malle signals both continuity and renewal. As Wintour put it to staff, “Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one’s work... Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be.”
With Malle at the helm of American Vogue’s editorial content and Wintour steering the global vision, the magazine appears poised to navigate the evolving world of fashion media—honoring its storied past while embracing an ever-changing future.
