Chloe Malle Steps Into Vogue’s Spotlight

There’s a seismic shift happening at Vogue America, and it feels like the beginning of a new era that’s still tethered to its old guard. Chloe Malle has officially been named the new Head of Editorial Content, taking the reins from Anna Wintour after her record-breaking 37-year tenure as editor-in-chief. But don’t get it twisted, Wintour isn’t vanishing into fashion folklore just yet. She’s holding onto her roles as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director, meaning she’ll still loom over the brand while Malle manages the U.S. edition’s day-to-day rhythm across print, digital, video, audio, and events. The move not only hands Malle one of the most coveted jobs in publishing but also signals how Condé Nast wants to reframe leadership in a post-editor-in-chief world.

This isn’t just a power shuffle, it’s a cultural handoff. Think of it as Vogue trading in its vintage Cartier for a sleeker, more functional upgrade while keeping the diamonds intact.

From Hollywood Baby to Fashion Insider

Malle’s story is rooted in a kind of cinematic destiny. At 39, she comes with Hollywood DNA, daughter of actress Candice Bergen and late French director Louis Malle. She’s upfront about her “nepo baby” status, but her career receipts keep her grounded in credibility. After studying at Brown and writing for publications like The New York Observer and The New York Times, she landed at Vogue in 2011 as a social editor, eventually scaling up to contributing editor and then Vogue.com editor. By 2023, she was also co-hosting The Run-Through, the podcast Vogue fans actually tuned into for insider chatter.

Her trajectory is very “inside girl done good.” She didn’t just rest on the family name; she carved her own lane while staying close to the Vogue mothership.

Wintour’s Chosen Successor

The fact that Wintour handpicked Malle speaks volumes. She described her as a “voracious, engaged journalist” with warmth, vision, and the ability to see fashion beyond its runway bubble. In other words, someone who can keep Vogue culturally relevant without alienating its polished core. While other heavyweights like Sara Moonves and Eva Chen were floated as contenders, Malle was ultimately seen as the rational, loyal choice, the one least likely to dismantle Wintour’s legacy.

Still, it’s clear Vogue is bracing for slow, steady evolution rather than sudden revolution.

The New Role, The New Rules

With the “editor-in-chief” title retired, Malle’s job is less about dictating from a glossy throne and more about juggling Vogue’s many platforms while threading legacy with digital-first immediacy. She’s already signaling respect for Wintour’s irreplaceable shadow, saying, “The truth is that no one’s going to replace Anna.” Yet her reputation as both a hard worker and someone who injects lightness and fun into editorial spaces suggests she won’t just be a carbon copy. Expect tweaks, fresh formats, and a more approachable Vogue personality under her watch.

It’s less about tearing down and more about remixing what’s already there.

What This Means for Vogue’s Future

For the industry, this moment is a study in continuity dressed as change. Wintour still holds the keys to global strategy and the Met Gala, but Malle is steering Vogue U.S. into whatever the next decade of fashion media looks like. Think more cross-platform storytelling, less obsession with print prestige. Her appointment also reaffirms Condé Nast’s structural pivot, with “heads of editorial content” replacing the old-school chief editor model across its biggest brands.

The question isn’t whether Malle can fill Wintour’s shoes; it’s whether she’ll design a different pair altogether.