Last weekend, there was some humongous fashion news. Finally Dior announced the successor of Raf Simons, since he left the famous couture house in October last year: Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Sidney Toledano, the CEO of Dior had his eyes on the talented Chiuri for quite some time, and already asked the Italian fashion designer to join the company a couple of years ago: he wanted her to take the accessory department under her wings. She then politely declined the offer, saying that she only wanted to work for Dior if she got the whole package. Quite courageous and fearless to say, don't you think? Hats off for this lady, as today she eventually gets what she initially asked for...
Today we see that still a lot of the leading positions in companies - not only in fashion related companies - are appointed to men. But for me, this is very striking in the fashion industry. Don't you have a brother, a father, male friends... who just hate thinking about what they should wear today or walk away every time you want to go shopping with them? I know it is quite stereotype to say that all men do not have any interest in fashion, and I absolutely want to make clear that this is not what I'm trying to say. But it is just so striking that most of the creative directors at the big (and even smaller) fashion houses are men: Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel), Nicolas Ghesquiere (Louis Vuitton), Jeremy Scott (Moschino), Demna Gvasalia (Balenciaga), Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), Olivier Rousteing (Balmain), Christopher Bailey (Burberry)... I'm just relieved that finally this position at Dior goes to a woman. It is the first time in the label's 69-year history that a female creative director is appointed. Hurray for breaking the glass ceiling a little bit more!
Chiuri is 100 % Italian and has always worked in the city of Rome. Also, during her whole career she formed a team with Pierpaolo Piccioli, first at Fendi, then at Valentino. Her first collection must be ready for the fashion weeks of September... So it's going to be a busy summer (but I personally think she doesn't care ;))!
