Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director, the French fashion house officially confirmed on October 9, 2026, closing a tenure defined by daring silhouettes and major cultural impact.
Already 36 years old at the time of his appointment, he was recognized for his daring creations, his collaboration with Versace’s youth-oriented line Versus, and his personal brand, which he wound down upon accepting the role at Saint Laurent. Born in Brussels in 1982 to Italian parents, Vaccarello first studied sculpture at La Cambre, graduating in 2006, before turning to fashion. The Paris fashion house announced the departure of its star designer, bringing an end to a ten-year run that reshaped the brand’s runway identity and commercial success. The exit comes on the heels of the Spring/Summer 2027 runway presentation on September 29, staged beneath the Eiffel Tower, which had already sparked widespread speculation about the Belgian designer’s future with the maison. Throughout the past decade, the Belgian creator has reshaped the house’s modern aesthetic and contributed to pushing its revenues past 3 billion euros.
Gold Finale at the Eiffel Tower
Presented on September 29 on the Trocadéro esplanade, Vaccarello’s final runway statement for Saint Laurent featured a striking progression of gold and black looks that revisited the house’s signature codes. Staged on the Trocadéro esplanade directly facing the Eiffel Tower, the creator made the bold gamble to focus entirely on gold—the shade that Yves Saint Laurent considered “magical”—underneath massive golden chandeliers, where trench coats, safari jackets, midi skirts, and oversized accessories blended into a flowing cascade of liquid metal. To close the show, a visibly moved Charlotte Gainsbourg sang to him, You are so much Yves Saint Laurent, Anthony,
as the Eiffel Tower sparkled in the background.
The front row for what is now known to be his final bow drew a roster of high-profile ambassadors and celebrity muses, including Hailey Bieber, Rami Malek, Post Malone, Amelia Gray, Belmont Cameli, Donatella Versace, and Zoe Saldana. Following the models’ final walk, Vaccarello stepped out for his final bow, bringing a quiet end to a decade that established the brand as a formidable cultural force. Through an official Instagram post on his personal account, Vaccarello published a montage celebrating lighthearted moments with the house accompanied by the caption “À bientôt,” which opened with the Belgian creator signing a handwritten note “Love A” and transitioned into archival clips from prominent campaigns and highlights. His inner circle included the likes of actress Zoë Kravitz and Connor Storrie, models Kate Moss and Anja Rubik, singers Rosé and Charlotte Gainsbourg. In August, Saint Laurent dropped videos of its 2026 fall campaign featuring Storrie with a Patrick Swayze-inspired swag, bobbing his head to Milli Vanilli's
I’m Gonna Miss You” while showcasing his sleek Saint Laurent shades and ’80s-coded popped-collar leather jacket.
Ten Years at the Helm of Saint Laurent
Vaccarello took the helm at Saint Laurent in April 2016, succeeding Hedi Slimane after serving as designer for Versus Versace and leading his own eponymous label, which he subsequently closed. His debut in September 2016 at a private mansion in Paris’s 7th arrondissement introduced a heavy palette of black, exaggerated 1980s power shoulders, and sandals featuring heels shaped into the YSL logo that became an immediate social media sensation.
Over the following ten years, he built a distinct visual identity anchored in sharp tailoring, leather outerwear, sheer eveningwear, and languid, body-skimming proportions. His creative direction extended well beyond the runway into retail concepts like Saint Laurent Babylone bookshop and gallery in Paris, alongside the establishment of Saint Laurent Productions in 2023, which backed films such as Emilia Pérez
and Paolo Sorrentino’s Parthenope
.
I would like to warmly thank Anthony for his ten years of dedication to the House. During his tenure, Anthony took Saint Laurent on a remarkable trajectory, elevating the House to the forefront of desirability and image, while accomplishing exceptional work both creatively and through his cultural impact.
Cedric Charbit, President and CEO of Saint Laurent, via The Manila Times
Kering CEO Luca de Meo also praised the departing designer’s contributions, stating that Vaccarello helped strengthen the enduring influence of one of France’s premier couture houses.
Financial Realities and Future Leadership at Kering
The leadership change arrives as parent group Kering manages changing market conditions across its luxury portfolio. The house returned to growth in the first half of 2026. Despite softer figures compared to prior peaks, Vaccarello maintained high brand visibility, keeping Saint Laurent in the top five of The Lyst Index for the last 10 quarters. In 2025, Kering employed 44,000 people and generated revenue of €14.7 billion.
Industry speculation regarding Vaccarello’s successor immediately centered on Chemena Kamali, currently the creative director at Chloé, who previously served as Saint Laurent’s women’s ready-to-wear design director under Vaccarello from 2016 until 2023. Meanwhile, Kering indicated that it will announce its new creative leadership shortly. Set for November 2nd, the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards will honor Vaccarello by presenting him with the International Designer of the Year award. At the group’s Capital Markets Day last April in Florence, de Meo told analysts the next chapter is how to reawaken and reinvigorate icons, to transform them into iconic products that go beyond fashion cycle.
Furthermore, the house of Saint Laurent has set targets to double its revenues generated from Very Important Clients by the year 2030, while also aiming to double its commercial operations throughout Asia across that identical period.