Fashion Christian Dior Confirms Maria Grazia Chiuri as First-Ever Female Artistic Director By Jonathan Borge Jonathan Borge Instagram Twitter Jonathan Borge is a writer and editor living in New York City. His writing has appeared in Glamour, Refinery29, Forbes, and PAPER, among other publications. Plus, he's held staff positions at Marie Claire, InStyle, and OprahDaily.com. Currently, he's the Senior Entertainment Editor at Bustle Digital Group's Elite Daily, where he oversees digital covers, features and profiles, freelance essays, and strategy for the site's TV/Movies and Celebrity and Music sub-verticals.He primarily writes about pop culture and style, and has a passion for telling LGBTQ+ and Latinx stories. When he's not working, he's likely waiting for Lady Gaga to announce her next tour. InStyle's editorial guidelines Updated on July 8, 2016 @ 11:15AM Pin Share Tweet Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/Getty Maria Grazia Chiuri is officially the seventh and first-ever female artistic director of Christian Dior. The brand announced its latest appointment late Thursday night via Twitter. "Dior is delighted to welcome Ms. Maria Chiuri as artistic director of women's couture, RTW and accessory collections," reads the tweet. On Friday, Sidney Toledano, president and chief executive officer of Christian Dior, confirmed the news. "The idea of hiring a woman is something I had in mind, and this woman was the right one," he told WWD. "She's a very direct person, concrete, pragmatic," he said, adding, "She was really challenged and excited by the house of Dior. She has a global understanding of the values of the house." According to WWD, Chiuri is set to start next week and will debut her first collection at the helm of the brand in Paris on Sept. 30 for its spring 2017 ready-to-wear show. Earlier this week, the designer showed her final couture collection for Valentino as co-creative director of the brand with Pierpaolo Picciolo. "It is a great honor to be joining the house of Dior; 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," Chiuri reportedly said in a statement. "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." PHOTOS: 10 Looks That Prove Anna Kendrick Is as Stylish as She Is Hilarious Congratulations to Chiuri!