From Fashion Faux Pas to Frontrunner: Chloe Malle’s Rise at Vogue
Chloe Malle, now 39, has become a prominent figure at Vogue, but her initial foray into the fashion world wasn’t exactly seamless. Reflecting on her 2011 interview with Anna Wintour for a social editor position, Malle recalls a sartorial misstep that would likely make the notoriously discerning Wintour raise an eyebrow.
“I think back to my interview at Vogue and I’m a little embarrassed,” Malle admitted, recalling the outfit she chose for the pivotal meeting. Defying the unspoken rule against wearing black, Malle opted for a practical ensemble to combat the March chill. “You’re supposed to never wear black. I wore black,” she confessed. Her outfit consisted of black tights, less-than-pristine black suede booties from J. Crew (“which were fine, but were sort of falling apart”), and a “very boring, short-ish” Diane von Furstenberg collared dress paired with a grey and white striped blazer.
Adding insult to injury, Malle accessorised with a white-orange pashmina and an orange beaded bag, believing them to be “really cool” at the time. “I consider myself more of a ‘fashion girl’ now, but my evolution’s been almost by osmosis,” she quipped.
Despite this less-than-perfect first impression, Malle has steadily climbed the ranks at the fashion publication, progressing from social editor to podcast host and editor of Vogue.com. Now, she is considered a leading candidate to succeed Wintour as the head of editorial content for Vogue in the United States.
Shaping the Fashion World
Malle’s potential appointment signals a shift in the fashion landscape. She orchestrated coverage of Naomi Biden’s 2022 White House wedding and secured an interview with Lauren Sanchez prior to her marriage to Jeff Bezos, demonstrating her ability to capture high-profile stories. If selected, she would wield significant influence over the direction of the fashion world.
The daughter of Murphy Brown star Candice Bergen and the late French film director Louis Malle, Malle leads a glamorous life, as evidenced by her Instagram feed. Her social media showcases vacations at the family’s estate in the South of France, visits to the beaches of Montauk in the Hamptons, and dining experiences at New York City’s most exclusive restaurants.
A Homebody at Heart
Despite the demands of her role, Malle, a wife and mother of two, doesn’t naturally gravitate towards the party-centric lifestyle often associated with being a Vogue editor. During her interview with Wintour, when asked about her hobbies, Malle responded, “I like to sleep and cook.” A photograph posted in 2022, showing Malle in her pyjamas while watching Miss Marple, further reinforces this image. “Back in my pajamas watching Miss Marple but still thinking about the time I dressed up THREE nights in a row!” she wrote.
As social editor, Malle was required to attend multiple social events per week, a significant departure from her personal preferences. “I work on the best-dressed lists and write party coverage for Vogue.com, which is so funny because I used to hate going out,” she said in 2014. “I’m such a morning person. But now that I decide what parties to cover for the website, I’m usually out three to four nights a week.”
Early Life and Influences
Malle’s childhood was split between Los Angeles and France. Her mother relocated to Los Angeles to film Murphy Brown when Malle was three years old. Her father, Louis Malle, remained in France, travelling to Los Angeles every other month to visit his family. “People who don’t know better think it’s a glamorous arrangement,” Bergen noted in 1993, acknowledging the strain that long-distance communication placed on their marriage.
Malle was close to her father, who passed away from lymphoma in 1995 when she was ten years old. Five years later, Malle and her mother returned to New York, where she attended Riverdale High School. “I was always a big reader—I was an only child, so it was just me, my dog Lois, and my books,” Malle recalled.
She went on to study comparative literature and writing at Brown University. “When I graduated, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” Malle said. “I was always interested in writing—I edited the weekly paper at Brown and loved that.”
Career Beginnings
After considering a career in public health, Malle secured an internship at the New York Observer and was subsequently hired to cover real estate. She then worked as a freelance writer, contributing to The New York Times Style section and Vogue. Her breakthrough moment came in 2011 when she landed the social editor role at Vogue.
“I was hesitant when I was interviewing, because fashion is not one of my main interests in life, and I wanted to be a writer more than an editor, but I was so seduced by the Vogue machine that I couldn’t resist,” Malle explained.
Personal Life: Love and Family
In her personal life, Malle’s relationship with asset manager Graham Albert flourished. The couple became engaged on New Year’s Day in 2014. “He said, ‘I have a question. I think we should get married.’ And my first response was, ‘That’s not a question!’” Malle recounted. “I know I’m a brat, but I’m an editor—what do you want from me? Then I said, ‘Oh wow, this is happening.’ I don’t think I ever actually said ‘yes,’ there was no need.”
They married at the family’s 16th-century stone manor in Le Coual, southwestern France, in the same room where her parents had exchanged vows in 1980. The wedding was a lavish yet intimate four-day celebration with 40 guests. “I grew up spending every summer there and the minute I turn down the driveway my heart leaps—I get so excited,” Malle said. “It’s a visceral reaction, I just love being there more than anything.”
Malle and Albert have two children: Louis, named after Malle’s father, and Alice. “Mom of two is really the most time-consuming occupation at the moment, which I’m leaning into,” she said last year. “Now I’ve just decided … [to] embrace the fact that they’re going to take most of my time and my logistical mental space.”
Political Views
Malle has also expressed her political views, voicing opposition to Donald Trump and sharing left-leaning content on social media. She is outspoken and encourages discussion on current events.
The Future of Vogue
As Malle advances to the final stages of interviews for the top position at Vogue, the question remains how she will balance her personal politics with leading a prominent fashion publication. Anna Wintour, reportedly remaining as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director, may offer guidance.
Malle expressed her admiration for Wintour’s leadership style, stating, “I actually love working with Anna, because I love someone telling me exactly what needs to be done and exactly what she thinks about something. There’s no indecision. There’s no ambiguity.”