Maria Grazia Chiuri bids farewell to Dior after nine transformative years
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
In an official statement released on Thursday, Dior confirmed her departure: 'Christian Dior Couture announces that Maria Grazia Chiuri has decided to leave her position as creative director of women's haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections.'
Chiuri's exit marks the end of an influential chapter for Dior, one defined by bold feminist messaging, cross-cultural collaborations, and commercial success.
During her nine-year tenure, Chiuri not only reimagined the house codes with a fresh female gaze but also made history as the first woman ever appointed to the role since Christian Dior founded the maison in 1947.
Delphine Arnault, chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture, paid tribute to Chiuri's trailblazing legacy: 'Since joining Dior, Maria Grazia has delivered exceptional work with a deeply inspiring feminist vision, all while honouring the spirit of Monsieur Dior.
Her collections have captured imagination and driven remarkable growth for the house.'
Chiuri, in turn, expressed gratitude to the team that supported her journey: 'I thank Monsieur Arnault for his trust and Delphine for her constant support. Above all, I'm proud of the extraordinary work done with the ateliers and my team. Together, we created a fashion language rooted in empowerment, in dialogue with women artists across generations.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This has been an unforgettable chapter.'
FILE - Italian fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri is photographed at the Dior Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented, March 4, 2025. in Paris. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, file)
A successor has yet to be announced, leaving the fashion world abuzz with speculation. The announcement follows the recent appointment of Jonathan Anderson as artistic director for Dior Men, replacing Kim Jones earlier this year.
Chiuri's impact on Dior can't be overstated. When she joined the house in 2016, she already brought with her decades of experience, beginning her career in 1989 at Fendi as a handbag designer, then moving to Valentino in 1999, eventually rising to co-creative director alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli in 2008.
Her debut Dior collection for Spring/Summer 2017 signalled a new direction, notably featuring slogan T-shirts emblazoned with 'We Should All Be Feminists', a reference to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's essay. This bold move set the tone for what would become a signature: collections that centred women and celebrated their strength, stories, and artistry.
Throughout her Dior years, Chiuri brought in the voices and visions of female artists to enrich her runway storytelling.
From Judy Chicago's immersive installations to collaborations with Faith Ringgold, Eva Jospin, and Mickalene Thomas, the designer ensured that art and fashion walked hand in hand. One of her more theatrical moments came in the Spring/Summer 2025 show, when Italian artist and archer Sagg Napoli fired arrows on set as models walked, a fitting metaphor for Chiuri's powerful aim.
Her tenure also spanned ambitious runway shows across the globe - from Mumbai, which honoured the artistry of Indian craftspeople, to Kyoto, which drew on Japanese tradition.
These shows weren't just visually compelling; they were commercially effective. Under her leadership, Dior's couture division saw sales soar from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €9.5 billion in 2023, according to HSBC. However, like the broader luxury market, Dior has begun to feel the slowdown.
Sales dipped to €8.7 billion in 2024, with LVMH's fashion and leather goods division reporting a 5% drop in Q1 2025.
Amid this evolving landscape, Dior recently strengthened its executive team, appointing Benedetta Petruzzo as managing director in October and naming Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou deputy CEO in April, both reporting to Delphine Arnault.
Outside the fashion world, Chiuri has also turned her attention to personal projects. Most notably, she has been restoring Rome's historic Teatro della Cometa, revealing her commitment to cultural preservation and storytelling in every form.
Her final bow came earlier this week at the Dior Resort 2026 show, a poignant farewell to the house she helped reimagine for a new generation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
38 minutes ago
- News18
Kourtney Kardashian Shuts Down Pregnancy Rumours: 'Breastfeeding, Eating Gelato...'
Last Updated: Kourtney Kardashian denies pregnancy rumours, attributes her appearance to enjoying Italian cuisine and breastfeeding her son Rocky. Kourtney Kardashian has shut down rumours she's pregnant. The 46-year-old Poosh founder has been inundated with comments about her looking pregnant in her holiday pictures from Portofino, Italy. In response, Kourtney insisted she is simply indulging in Italian cuisine and is still breastfeeding her 20-month-old son Rocky – whom she has with husband Travis Barker. The Kardashians star – who also has Mason, 15, Penelope, 13, and 10-year-old Reign with ex-partner Scott Disick – replied, 'Or breastfeeding, eating gelato, focaccia, pasta, not working out and living my best damn life baby!" Travis is also dad to Landon, 21, Alabama, 19, and stepdaughter Atiana, 26, from his marriage to Shanna Moakler. And, Kourtney recently said she believes their blended family has given them a 'deeper" existence. Appearing on her sister Khloe Kardashian's Khloe in Wonder Land podcast, she said, 'I love my role as stepmom, because I don't feel like its up to me to discipline. We've kind of allowed each other to—we'll talk about it, he can handle the harder things. I definitely give advice or try to be a good role model. Some days I've thought like, 'Wow, this is really hard blending families.' But even in the days that are hard, there's so much more love. It's such a deeper, richer existence." Kourtney Kardashian first rose to fame in 2007 thanks to Keeping Up With the Kardashians, where her laid-back attitude and sharp comebacks quickly made her a fan favourite. Since then, she's starred in several spin-offs, built her lifestyle brand Poosh, and carved out her own identity beyond the Kardashian spotlight. In recent years, Kourtney's been more open than ever—sharing her journey through motherhood, wellness, and her relationship with musician Travis Barker. After welcoming their son Rocky Thirteen in 2023, she continues to embrace life on her own terms, mixing glam with realness in true Kourtney style. First Published:
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
'Vampire Diaries' actor Paul Wesley is now engaged to longtime girlfriend Natalie Kuckenburg
Paul Wesley gets engaged Live Events How did Paul Wesley and Natalie Kuckenburg meet? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel 'Vampire Diaries' actor Paul Wesley is now engaged to his longtime girlfriend Natalie Kuckenburg . Paul, 42, asked his partner to marry him, the 25-year-old model announced on Instagram on Saturday, July couple announced the happy news online by sharing a picture of the wedding ring, sending the fans into a frenzy. Kuckenburg's ring was front and center in the post, which included a black-and-white snap of her and Wesley holding hands.'Yes,' she captioned the close-up shot of her oval-cut sparkler. 'Always and forever.' Shortly after Natalie announced their engagement, Wesley also took to Instagram. He shared a selfie on his Stories. The photo shows Kuckenburg flaunting her engagement couple has been sharing their latest travel updates from Italy for quite some time now. On July 18, Natalie Kuckenburg shared a picture showing a black and white photograph of their hand with the wedding ring. The caption on the post read, 'Yes 🤍Always and forever', leaving fans in awe of their Wesley had earlier shared multiple photos from their vacation, calling it 'a beautiful time in Tuscany.' Natalie commented, 'The best time.' Wesley and Kuckenburg got engaged during their trip to Italy, according to a report by US-based news outlet People. The couple had begun dating in Thursday, July 17, the pair was spotted soaking up the sun — and sharing a kiss — in Italy, this time on the Amalfi two were first spotted together while on vacation in the European country in November 2022. At the time, the couple were seen enjoying a romantic dinner date in Nerano. After they were photographed sharing a kiss, they each posted photos from the same location on their Instagram accounts. (The pair also shared a kiss in Kuckenburg's most recent post documenting their latest Italian vacation.)In an interview to PEOPLE, Paul gave a rare glimpse into the couple's relationship in March 2024, explaining what keeps their relationship going.'There's two people that are the funniest people in my life — Number one, my dog, and number two, frankly, my girlfriend,' Wesley said at the time. "I think the reason we get along so well is because all we do is laugh,' he added, 'and I think it's probably one of the most important things in a relationship.'Since they were first linked, Wesley and Kuckenburg have posted several sweet tributes to each other on their respective Instagram accounts. Wesley, also known for his work in projects such as 'Beneath the Blue and Roll Bounce', was previously married to actress-singer Torrey DeVitto. They tied the knot in 2011 but got divorced in 2013. The actor later married Ines de Ramon in 2019, but the couple eventually decided to part ways. They were granted a divorce in 2024.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
'Vampire Diaries' actor Paul Wesley is now engaged to longtime girlfriend Natalie Kuckenburg
'Vampire Diaries' actor Paul Wesley is now engaged to his longtime girlfriend Natalie Kuckenburg . Paul, 42, asked his partner to marry him, the 25-year-old model announced on Instagram on Saturday, July 19. The couple announced the happy news online by sharing a picture of the wedding ring, sending the fans into a frenzy. Kuckenburg's ring was front and center in the post, which included a black-and-white snap of her and Wesley holding hands. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Design Thinking Data Science healthcare Degree Product Management Finance Public Policy Leadership Artificial Intelligence Data Science Others Healthcare Project Management PGDM Cybersecurity Management CXO Technology Data Analytics others MBA Digital Marketing MCA Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details 'Yes,' she captioned the close-up shot of her oval-cut sparkler. 'Always and forever.' Shortly after Natalie announced their engagement, Wesley also took to Instagram. He shared a selfie on his Stories. The photo shows Kuckenburg flaunting her engagement ring. ALSO READ: Barack Obama-Michelle finally address divorce rumours: 'There hasn't been one moment in our marriage...' Paul Wesley gets engaged The couple has been sharing their latest travel updates from Italy for quite some time now. On July 18, Natalie Kuckenburg shared a picture showing a black and white photograph of their hand with the wedding ring. The caption on the post read, 'Yes 🤍Always and forever', leaving fans in awe of their relationship. Live Events View this post on Instagram A post shared by Natalie Kuckenburg (@nataliekuckenburg) Paul Wesley had earlier shared multiple photos from their vacation, calling it 'a beautiful time in Tuscany.' Natalie commented, 'The best time.' Wesley and Kuckenburg got engaged during their trip to Italy, according to a report by US-based news outlet People. The couple had begun dating in 2022. On Thursday, July 17, the pair was spotted soaking up the sun — and sharing a kiss — in Italy, this time on the Amalfi Coast. ALSO READ: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's divorce bill revealed following Coldplay kiss cam controversy with HR chief How did Paul Wesley and Natalie Kuckenburg meet? The two were first spotted together while on vacation in the European country in November 2022. At the time, the couple were seen enjoying a romantic dinner date in Nerano. After they were photographed sharing a kiss, they each posted photos from the same location on their Instagram accounts. (The pair also shared a kiss in Kuckenburg's most recent post documenting their latest Italian vacation.) In an interview to PEOPLE, Paul gave a rare glimpse into the couple's relationship in March 2024, explaining what keeps their relationship going. ALSO READ: Barron Trump 'humiliated' at NYU? Professor, peers make shocking statement about US President's son 'There's two people that are the funniest people in my life — Number one, my dog, and number two, frankly, my girlfriend,' Wesley said at the time. "I think the reason we get along so well is because all we do is laugh,' he added, 'and I think it's probably one of the most important things in a relationship.' Since they were first linked, Wesley and Kuckenburg have posted several sweet tributes to each other on their respective Instagram accounts. Wesley, also known for his work in projects such as 'Beneath the Blue and Roll Bounce', was previously married to actress-singer Torrey DeVitto. They tied the knot in 2011 but got divorced in 2013. The actor later married Ines de Ramon in 2019, but the couple eventually decided to part ways. They were granted a divorce in 2024.
