Confirmed: Maria Grazia Chiuri Is Dior's New Artistic Director

After nine months of radio silence on who would replace Raf Simons at Dior, the French couture house has confirmed Maria Grazia Chiuri as its next artistic director for womenswear.

Rumors that Chiuri was Dior's next designer were first reported by Reuters before the start of Paris Fashion Week, and her recent decision to leave Valentino gave us one more hint that she was ready for a move.

Now, it's official: Chiuri will oversee all the women's collections for Christian Dior, includingwomen's couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories. The role was being filled by Dior's in-house design team under the direction of Lucie Meier and Serge Ruffieux.

Chiuri is expected to show her first designs for Dior at the next fall-winter ready-to-wear Fashion Week, in early 2017.