Maria Grazia Chiuri Exits Dior After 9 Years as Creative Director

After more than nine years at the helm of Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri stepped down as the house’s creative director, marking the end of a historic era. Appointed in July 2016, Chiuri made fashion history as the first woman to lead the iconic French maison since its founding in 1946.

Chiuri brought a distinct vision to Dior—one rooted in feminism, craftsmanship, and cultural dialogue. Her debut Spring/Summer 2017 collection, unveiled in September 2016 at Paris Fashion Week, set the tone for her tenure with slogan tees quoting Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and a focus on female empowerment. 

"After nine years, I am leaving Dior, delighted to have been given this extraordinary opportunity. I would like to thank Monsieur Arnault for placing his trust in me and Delphine for her support. I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and the Ateliers," Chiuri said in a statement. "Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women’s fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists. Together, we have written an impactful chapter of which I am immensely proud."

Before joining Dior, Chiuri had spent nearly two decades working alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli, first at Fendi’s accessories department in the late '80s and later at Valentino. The duo reinvigorated Valentino's image, especially through the success of accessories like the now-iconic Rockstud heels. After Valentino Garavani’s departure, they were named co-creative directors in 2008. In 2015, they were honored with the CFDA International Award.

Chiuri’s collections at Dior seamlessly fused the house’s storied heritage with a distinctly modern point of view—reviving staples like the Saddle bag while reimagining classic silhouettes for today’s audience. Her ability to honor tradition while pushing it forward made Dior a continued favorite over the years. 

“I extend my warmest thanks to Maria Grazia Chiuri, who, since her arrival at Dior, has accomplished tremendous work with an inspiring feminist perspective and exceptional creativity, all imbued with the spirit of Monsieur Dior, which allowed her to design highly desirable collections," Chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture Delphine Arnault said in her statement. "She has written a key chapter in the history of Christian Dior, greatly contributing to its remarkable growth and being the first woman to lead the creation of women’s collections."

As Dior has yet to announce who will succeed Chiuri, the musical chairs of fashion's creative directors continues.