Maria Grazia Chiuri: The what's what on Dior's new Artistic Director

Maria Grazia Chiuri is to become the first woman to fill the shoes of Christian Dior's Artistic Director in the brand's 70 year history. Which means breaking up one of the industry’s most formidable design duos, as for almost 30 years. Maria has worked alongside fellow Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino since 1999, where they were co-creative directors since 2008. They pair started out in the accessories department at Fendi together in 1989 after attending the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome. This means that Dior would be her first ever solo gig.

Becoming the first woman to lead the brand is probably one of the most influential positions in fashion and what better woman to do it, having been credited with breathing new life into Valentino as a modern couture house and quadrupling their sales. The scale of operations at Dior is mega and Maria will be a dab hand at doing the six womenswear collections that the brand produces each year.

 Maria's best moments

Beautiful embroidered dresses are her trademark. The daughter of a dressmaker, and with a background in couture, she’ll have no trouble delivering dream dresses for Dior.

Valentino Fall 2016 - ready to wear

Red carpet dream dresses 

Maria’s work at Valentino made the brand a favourite of Keira Knightley, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kirsten Dunst. Dior, meanwhile, is known for dressing Marion Cotillard and Emma Watson amongst many, so they will be in good hands when it comes to wanting their next dress.

Artist collaborations

At Valentino, she has collaborated with many artists, which will go down well with Dior who does too, such as their work with British artist Marc Quinn. 

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