Chloe Malle, the incoming head of editorial content for Vogue, recently detailed her understated approach to fashion and her goals for the magazine in a conversation with Emily Sundberg. The 40-year-old editor is scheduled to succeed Anna Wintour in this specific role in September 2025.
Striped Sweaters and Belgian Loafers: Malle's 'Dowdy' Pivot
In a stark departure from the high-glamour expectations of Vogue's leadership, Chloe Malle described her personal style as remarkably understated. During the interview with Emily Sundberg for the Feed Me Substack, Malle admitted she would likely wear a striped sweater, Belgian loafers, and High Sport pants if she were not under public scrutiny. This preference for a "drab" aesthetic has already drawn criticism; the report notes that fashion criitcs felt Malle's styling for her Met Gala debut earlier this year failed to meet the event's usual grandeur.
This shift toward the mundane represents a broader trend in the fashion industry where "relatability" is becoming a currency. For decades, Vogue operated as an aspirational fortress, but Malle's openness about her "dowdy" tastes suggests a desire to dismantle the "can't sit with us" reputation the magazine has long held. By embracing a look that mirrors her own mother,Malle is positioning herself as a humanizing force in a publication historically defined by an exacting, almost untouchable standard of perfection.
The 30 Percent Pay Raise that Ruffled Anna Wintour
The transition of power at Vogue has not been without visible friction. As reported, a joint interview with New York Times reporter Jessica Testa highlighted a clash in priorities between Chloe Malle and Anna Wintour. When asked how she would spend a 1990s-sized budget, Malle enthusiastically proposed giving staff a 30 percent pay raise, expanding the social media team, and building a new podcast studo to enhance the publication's digital reach.
According to the source, Anna Wintour—known as "The Ice Queen" for her rigorous demeanor—did not share this enthusiasm. wintour reportedly responded with a "withering look" from behind her signature sunglasses, clarifying that the budget for Vogue is already healthy and that resource allocation is a fluid process. This exchange underscores the ideological gap between Wintour's traditionalist , top-down management and Malle's focus on employee welfare and digital infrastructure.
Why Malle Likens Vogue to the Eagles' Hotel California
Chloe Malle's vision for the future of Vogue involves a paradoxical blend of authority and irony. She compared the experience of working at the magazine to the Eagles' song "Hotel California," suggesting that while employees can technically leave, the brand's gravitational pull ensures they never truly escape its orbit. This suggests that Malle views Vogue not just as a business, but as a cultural ecosystem that permanently alters those who enter it.
To keep the brand relevant, Malle believes Vogue must maintain a "wry sense of humor" about its own influence. This playful approach is already evident in her past work; since joining the magazine in 2011, Malle launched "Dogue," a satirical fashion publication for dogs that became a viral success. By treating fashion as something that is "better when not taken too seriously," Malle aims to pivot the magazine away from cold elitism toward a more self-aware form of authority.
The 'Nepo Baby' Label and the September 2025 Transition
Despite her professional achievements, Malle's ascent is often viewed through the lens of her family connections as the daughter of actress Candice Bergen and director Louis Malle. this "nepo baby" narrative persists as she prepares to take the helm in September 2025, raising questions about whether her appointment is a meritoocratic shift or a continuation of established industry dynasties.
Several critical points remain unclear regarding the new leadership structure. While Malle will lead editorial content, Anna Wintour will remain the Global Chief Content Officer for Condé Nast and the Global Editorial Director. It is not yet known how these overlapping roles will function in practice, or if Wintour's continued presence will limit Malle's ability to implement the 30 percent pay raises and digital expansions she has championed. Furthermore, the source only provides Malle's perspective on the magazine's relatability, leaving it unknown if the broader Condé Nast leadership fully supports this less-serious direction.
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