We Have a New Editor of Vogue and You've Definitely Heard of Her Parents

White smoke was seen over the offices of Conde Nast as a new editor of Vogue was announced. After 37 years, Anna Wintour is giving her bob a rest and handing over the reins of the legendary fashion magazine to someone else. After many rumours, the final choice was Chloe Malle.

The French-American editor and writer has worked with Vogue for many years, starting as their social editor before becoming the editor of the website in 2023. She also hosts a podcast for the magazine, The Run-Through with Vogue. You may also know her name from her dad, the legendary French director Louis Malle. Chloe’s mother is Murphy Brown herself, Candice Bergen.

Malle has a good reputation at Conde Nast and is seen as a safe choice. This wasn’t seen as a daring shift in direction for the magazine, which, frankly, could use a shake-up. But as exciting as this must undoubtedly be for Malle, it’s also worth knowing that her new job comes with a big asterisk next to it. She won’t be the editor-in-chief of Vogue like Wintour. She will be the head of editorial content. What does that mean? As the announcement itself notes on Vogue’s website, she’ll lead the creative and editorial direction of the title and join Vogue’s 10 existing Heads of Editorial Content around the world, reporting to Anna Wintour. Yup, Anna is still in charge.

Wintour is now the worldwide chief content officer of Conde Nast. She’s arguably the most powerful person in magazine publishing today, an industry struggling to retain its relevancy in the internet and social media age. She is not retiring. She’s basically got an even cushier job at Conde Nast and can still micro-manage the magazine if she so wishes.

Does that mean Malle will be allowed to make major changes to Vogue if she so desires, or will Wintour keep a tight grip on the magazine? Will Malle be able to change the extensively documented culture of elitism and racism that has plagued Vogue for years, or will it remain a closed-doors institute? Malle was the writer of that ridiculous Lauren Sanchez piece for Vogue that tried to sell her as a girlboss maven, and Malle’s copy was full of quiet snark about her subject. Will she move away from oligarchical puff pieces, or will Wintour want to keep pleasing potential sponsors?

Anna Wintour is clinging to power like a nonagenarian Senator who can no longer stand upright but keeps running for re-election. One wonders if she knows how to get Vogue to stay on top after so many years of coasting. Maybe she just wants to stick around the office long enough for the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2. Surely, there’s an easier way to get tickets.