Vogue names Chloe Malle as its new editor

For the first time in 37 years, there is a new editor of American Vogue.

- Jessica Testa

NEW YORK - For the first time in 37 years, there is a new editor of American Vogue.

Anna Wintour has surrendered the title that transformed her into a titan of fashion and publishing, and handpicked a successor - sort of.

The role now belongs to Ms. Chloe Malle, 39, editor of Vogue's website and co-host of its podcast, the publication said on Sept 2.

Rather than editor, though, Ms. Malle is "head of editorial content" — a sign of how much the magazine business has changed since Vogue established itself as fashion's monthly print heavyweight, ruling the industry with a bejeweled iron fist.

In 2025, Vogue is fending off the same threats as any other legacy media company.

Modern editors are expected to devise new revenue streams, execute cinematic events and sell television series or lines of merchandise.

Institutions that hesitated to adapt to the digital age, and now artificial intelligence, have bled money and power - scrambling to reach new audiences and hang on to their existing base.

Still, Vogue remains a center of gravity in media.

For at least a decade, the industry has speculated wildly about who might replace Wintour, 75.

"The truth is no one's going to replace Anna," said Ms. Malle, who begins her job immediately.

What might have seemed like a moment of baton-passing was complicated by Wintour's unusual standing at Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue.

Wintour is not retiring. She is still the company's chief content officer. She is still Ms. Malle's direct supervisor, overseeing all 28 international editions of Vogue. She is not even moving out of her office.

Both women have acknowledged the strangeness of this arrangement. In remarks to staff on Sept 2, Wintour referred to herself as both Ms. Malle's mentor and her student.