Welcome back to Fashion Bulletin, a weekly column where Coveteur's senior fashion editor, Ella O’Keeffe, recaps all the buzzy industry news you may have missed from the week.
This week on the Fashion Bulletin, we're all collecting our thoughts with Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior exit. After nine years as the artistic director of womenswear, she stepped down from her post in an announcement yesterday. The news comes amid months of speculation that the Italian designer would be finishing up her tenure in 2026, spurred on by the announcement of Jonathan Anderson’s appointment as artistic director of Dior Men's (it is yet to be seen if his role will now expand). Chiuri’s legacy as one of the few female designers at a major luxury house is one to be felt and recognized. Her contribution to craft, dedication to local artisans and championing of women’s empowerment was a thread that carried through every touchpoint of her work. For that, we should have immense gratitude and recognition for her contribution.
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I have always been such a fan of Chiuri’s couture work. In a time where so much emphasis is on structure and neatness, Chiuri’s couture gowns always felt hyper feminine and fantasy-like. I still feel there is a place for these shapes in fashion, especially at a house like Dior, whose founder held such a fascination with whimsy. Chiuri’s work, while perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, was dedicated to something more than just what the masses wanted. But that’s not to say that she wasn’t able to cater to the masses, either. Under her stewardship, Dior's revenue saw a surge from approximately $2.4 billion in 2017 to $9.9 billion in 2024—nearly a fourfold increase in sales since the beginning of her tenure.
Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato Campaign
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Elsewhere in the world of the few female creative directors at luxury houses, Louise Trotter has released a new campaign celebrating the 50-year anniversary of Bottega Veneta’s famous intrecciato weave. A host of creatives including Tyler, The Creator, Zadie Smith, Julianne Moore, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jack Antonoff, star in the Jack Davison-shot campaign to showcase how simple gestures connect humanity. On a sentimental note, the images don’t only feature celebrities, but a number of the artisans who actually employ the woven leather technique in their work inside the Bottega Veneta atelier. The brand has even tapped Edward Buchanan, who took over the house as creative director in 1995 and created its first ever ready-to-wear collection, for having a huge influence on the intrecciato weave as we know it today.
Hailey Bieber Sells Rhode To e.l.f. For $1 Billion
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Hailey Bieber is having the last laugh this week, after confirming that her viral beauty brand, Rhode, has sold to e.l.f Beauty for a staggering $1 billion. In a moment where celebrity beauty brands have saturated the market, Bieber has been able to leverage her cult-status with clever marketing techniques and viral products to establish a company that is clearly worth investing in. The newfound accessibility that this deal will likely offer to consumers can only be seen as a positive step for the brand (and for all of the people who can’t get their hands on the Peptide Lip Treatment).
Dion Lee Sold To Revolve
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Another happy ending is this: beloved Australian brand Dion Lee has been saved by American retail giant Revolve Group, a year after shuttering its business operations. Since entering administration last year, Dion Lee has been run by dVT Group, an insolvency specialist, which has been selling stock to recoup $9 million. Under the guidance of Revolve Group, the brand and its eponymous designer will have a chance to rebuild and reframe the company, a positive result for both dedicated fans and the Australian fashion industry at large, of which Lee was one of its most successful exports.
Margaret Qualley Quietly Gives A Glimpse At Matthieu Blazy’s CHANEL
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Finally, all eyes may have been on Alexander Skarsgård’s leather looks and hints of Louise Trotter’s Bottega Veneta at Cannes, but at a photocall for her new film, Honey Don’t, Margaret Qualley gave us a glimpse at Matthieu Blazy’s CHANEL ahead of his September debut. Her look? A black leather midi dress with a halter neck and an open back. Oh, we are so back.
