Dior confirm Maria Grazia Chiuri as new Creative Director following her departure from Valentino

Dior boss Bernard Arnault praised Grazia Chiuri citing her talent as "enormous"
Karen Dacre8 July 2016

Fashion house Christian Dior has appointed its first female creative director.

Maria Grazia Chiuri, formerly of Valentino, was today confirmed as the woman poised to take the previous French business on to it's new chapter after a long spell of unrest.

The announcement ends months of speculation following the departure of Raf Simons who quit the role in October following citing a desire to slow down.

In a statement Dior boss Bernard Arnault praised Grazia Chiuri citing her talent as "enormous".

"She will bring her elegant and modern vision of the Dior woman" he said, "seamlessly attuned to the heritage and the codes defined by Monsieur Dior".

Dior Haute Couture AW16 at Paris Fashion Week

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Italian Grazia Chiuri will oversee Dior's extensive ready to wear, haute couture and accessory collections and plans to unveil her first designs for the house at Paris Fashion Week in September.

She is expected to inject Dior with her signature aesthetic of pared back elegance, a look which defined her reign at Valentino.

But this time, having worked in close proximity to design partner Pierpaolo Piccioli for some twenty years, she will be a solo act - as well as the first woman in a role widely considered to be among the most important in fashion.

“I measure the tremendous responsibility of being the first woman in charge of the creation in a house so deeply rooted in the pure expression of femininity" said Grazia Chuiri in a statement, released today, "the endless wealth of its heritage continues to be a constant source of inspiration for fashion and I cannot wait to express my own vision."

Yesterday Valentino announced Pierpaolo Piccioli as its sole creative director.

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