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It comes as no surprise. On Thursday, May 29, Christian Dior Couture<\/b> finally confirmed what everyone in the fashion world already knew. In a statement, the LVMH-owned fashion house announced that \u201cMaria Grazia Chiuri has decided to step down as creative director of women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories.\u201d<\/p>\n
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It had been known for several months that the days of Dior’s first female artistic director were numbered. But while this news is now official, the second rumor continues to circulate: Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who took over from Kim Jones at Dior Homme last April, could also be taking charge of the women’s line. This would be another first<\/b> for the fashion house, as the designer would be the first to oversee both the men’s and women’s<\/b> collections.<\/p>\n
In any case, guests at the presentation of the cruise collection in the gardens of the Villa Albani in Rome on May 27 had already understood that this dazzling show would be her last. They gave Maria Grazia Chiuri a standing ovation as a farewell. It was a beautiful farewell for the 61-year-old designer, who was born in the Italian capital.<\/p>\n
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In a statement released on May 29, Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior Couture, \u201cwarmly thanks Maria Grazia Chiuri, who, since her arrival at Dior, has accomplished a formidable job with an inspiring feminist vision and exceptional creativity, all imbued with the spirit of Monsieur Dior, which has enabled her to design highly desirable collections.\u201d In her eyes, \u201cshe has written an essential chapter in the history of Christian Dior, contributing significantly to its remarkable growth and being the first woman to lead the creation of women’s collections.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to calculations by HSBC, Dior couture sales rose from \u20ac2.2 billion in 2017, one year after Maria Grazia Chiuri’s arrival, to \u20ac9.5 billion in 2023.<\/p>\n
After thanking Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, for the trust he placed in her and his daughter Delphine for her support, Maria Grazia Chiuri said she was \u201cparticularly grateful for the work accomplished\u201d by the House’s teams and workshops. \u201cTheir talent and expertise have enabled me to realize my vision of committed women’s fashion<\/b>, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists. Together, we have written a remarkable chapter of which I am immensely proud,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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After studying at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome<\/b>, Maria Grazia Chiuri began her career at Fendi<\/b>, where she was in charge of leather goods. In 1999, she joined Valentino<\/b>, where she remained for 17 years. She was appointed co-artistic director alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli in 2008<\/b>, when Valentino Garavani retired.<\/p>\n
In 2017<\/b>, she was appointed artistic director of Christian Dior’s women’s collections.<\/b><\/p>\n
Maria Grazia Chiuri will have time to leave her mark, particularly her feminist legacy, on the history of the fashion house.<\/p>\n
Arriving after the controversial John Galliano, who remained from 1996 to 2011, and after the relatively brief three-year stint of Raf Simons, Maria Grazia Chiuri spent almost a decade\u2014nine years\u2014at the artistic helm of Dior Women. This exceptional tenure has been highlighted by the press, which notes that most of her peers generally do not stay for more than five years.<\/p>\n
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Dior, led by another woman, Delphine Arnault, assisted in general management by Benedetta Petruzzo since last October<\/b>, has therefore taken a turn that resolutely honors the so-called weaker sex…<\/p>\n
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