After all the rumors and hearsay, the game of fashion musical chairs has finally stopped as Maria Grazia Chiuri takes the role of creative director of Christian Dior. It looked certain to happen after she stepped down from her role at Valentino, following the brand’s Elizabethan themed couture show on Wednesday. Dior Chief Exec Sidney Toledano confirmed it this morning in an interview with BoF.
“She’s very straightforward and a direct person and so, frankly, the first time I met her, I knew that she was the one,” Toledano explains. LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault also sings the designer’s praises, speaking of her “enormous and internationally acclaimed” talent, and her “elegant and modern vision of the Dior woman.” Maria will be the first female creative director of Dior in its 70 year history, taking over the role of designing its ready-to-wear, couture and accessories collections. She is expected to debut her first collection during Paris Fashion Week in September.
Maria had previously been at Valentino for 17 years, first as accessories designer, and then, after the house’s founder retired in 2007, as its co-creative director with Pierpaolo Piccioli. The pair reimagined the maison, turning it into a critic and red carpet favorite. The pair have worked together as a duo since the 80s, when they met at fashion college. They designed at Fendi together (where they launched the brand’s iconic Baguette), before moving onto Valentino together. It will be interesting to see how their paths diverge, as Pierpaolo will stay on as sole creative director of Valentino.
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Credits
Text Felix Petty
Photography Mitchell Sams