Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri: «Giorgia Meloni and women in power»

Giorgia Meloni's victory in the Italian elections also arrived backstage at Dior in Paris and aroused the most interest in international dailies, from the Americans to the French, who asked Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of womenswear for the Lvmh Maison, for comments. With exemplary balance, she stated that she does "not feel like a powerful woman because of the way I was raised," talking about the scarcity of female figures in leadership positions. It was inevitable to ask her personal thoughts on the Roman parliamentarian, who seems destined to become the first woman Premier in Italy.

How do you assess Meloni's achievement in the elections?

More than her victory, to me it seems to be a defeat of others. I am really amazed that there are no women on the left in the same position as Giorgia Meloni. That has to make people think. I believe in certain values, about rights, about inclusion, and I am sorry that there are no women of Meloni's notoriety on the left or in other political areas.

What do you think of the center-right Premier candidate’s look?

I think the look of Fratelli d’Italia’s leader is very transparent, unfiltered, she dresses as she is. I do not think she has a strategy, she chooses what she likes. She does not use the language of fashion.

Does this freedom in dressing seem like a sign of emancipation to you?

Angela Merkel, who belonged to another generation, had to dress in a certain way to demonstrate her power, like a man. Nowadays there is a new generation of women in politics, and they do not want to dress with clichés. There is a limit between what is institutional and what you can wear in private, even if you are a public figure. Even a Premier can wear a pair of jeans from time to time…

Do you consider yourself a woman in power?

I do not see myself a woman in power, also due to how I was raised. Me and my entire generation. There is a very different interpretation of the concept of power in men and women. For us, it is more about a sense of common responsibility and not assertiveness, but this often becomes a limitation in your career.

Does fashion leave more room to women’s leadership today?

Fashion does not make any exception. In the fashion world, as in other environments, women are underrepresented and have roles that are rarely prominent. (All rights reserved)