Fashion creative director appointments 2023–2026: the ultimate cheatsheet
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This page tracks major fashion leadership changes across luxury and independent houses, formatted as a clean “who appointed whom, replacing whom, coming from where” record. It’s built for the exact searches people actually do around designer moves, and it’s meant to make connections visible at a glance, not buried in social feeds.
It currently covers January 2023 through 2026, including moves like Matthieu Blazy to Chanel, Demna to Gucci, Glenn Martens to Maison Margiela, and Jonathan Anderson taking the combined Dior role.
Last updated: 2026-02-27
Appointments & open seats in 2026
Zadig & Voltaire — Dan Sablon
On 2026-02-24, Zadig & Voltaire appointed Dan Sablon as creative director. Joined from Vogue France. They replaced Cecilia Bönström.
Noah — Brendon Babenzien
On 2026-02-17, Noah appointed Brendon Babenzien as creative director, returning to the brand from J.Crew.
Versace — Pieter Mulier
On 2026-02-05, Versace appointed Pieter Mulier as chief creative officer. Joined from Alaïa. They replaced Dario Vitale.
3.1 Phillip Lim — Michelle Rhee
In 2026-01, 3.1 Phillip Lim appointed Michelle Rhee as creative director. Joined from JW Anderson. They replaced Phillip Lim.
GU — Francesco Risso
In 2026-01, GU appointed Francesco Risso as creative director. Joined from Marni. This appointment followed a newly created role.
J.Crew — Vacant
As of 2026-02-21, J.Crew has no named creative director. The previous creative director, Brendon Babenzien, departed his own label, Noah.
Alaïa — Vacant
As of 2026-02-21, Alaïa has no named creative director. The previous creative director, Pieter Mulier, departed for Versace.
Bally — Vacant
As of 2026-02-21, Bally has no named creative director. The previous creative director, Simone Bellotti, departed for Jil Sander.
Appointments in 2025
Balmain — Antonin Tron
On 2025-11-12, Balmain appointed Antonin Tron as creative director. Joined from Atlein. They replaced Olivier Rousteing.
Fendi — Maria Grazia Chiuri
On 2025-11-14, Fendi appointed Maria Grazia Chiuri as chief creative officer. Joined from Dior. They replaced Silvia Venturini.
Hermès (Men's) — Grace Wales Bonner
On 2025-10-21, Hermès appointed Grace Wales Bonner as creative director (Men's). Joined from Wales Bonner. They replaced Véronique Nichanian.
Bosideng (Areal) — Kim Jones
On 2025-10-20, Bosideng appointed Kim Jones as creative director (premium line Areal). Joined from Dior. This appointment followed a newly created role.
Proenza Schouler — Rachel Scott
On 2025-09-02, Proenza Schouler appointed Rachel Scott as creative director. Joined from Diotima. They replaced "Proenza boys" McCollough and Hernandez.
Area — Nicholas Aburn
In 2025-09, Area appointed Nicholas Aburn as creative director. Joined from Balenciaga (couture studio). They replaced Piotrek Panszczyk.
Christian Louboutin (Men's) — Jaden Smith
In 2025-09, Christian Louboutin appointed Jaden Smith as creative director (Men's). This appointment followed a newly created role.
Marni — Meryll Rogge
On 2025-07-15, Marni appointed Meryll Rogge as creative director. Joined from Meryll Rogge. They replaced Francesco Risso.
Pangaia — Kevin Grandal
In 2025-07, Pangaia appointed Kevin Grandal as creative director. Joined from 1017 ALYX 9SM. This appointment followed internal restructuring.
Dior — Jonathan Anderson
On 2025-06-02, Dior appointed Jonathan Anderson as creative director. Joined from Loewe. They replaced Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kim Jones.
Balenciaga — Pierpaolo Piccioli
On 2025-05-19, Balenciaga appointed Pierpaolo Piccioli as creative director. Joined from Valentino. They replaced Demna.
Mugler — Miguel Castro Freitas
On 2025-04, Mugler appointed Miguel Castro Freitas as creative director. Joined from Sportmax. They replaced Casey Cadwallader.
Jean Paul Gaultier — Duran Lantink
In 2025-04, Jean Paul Gaultier appointed Duran Lantink as creative director. Joined from Duran Lantink.
Carven — Mark Howard Thomas
In 2025-03, Carven appointed Mark Howard Thomas as director of design. This appointment followed internal restructuring. They replaced Louise Trotter.
Loewe — Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez
In 2025-03, Loewe appointed Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez as creative directors. Joined from Proenza Schouler. They replaced Jonathan Anderson.
Jil Sander — Simone Bellotti
In 2025-03, Jil Sander appointed Simone Bellotti as creative director. Joined from Bally. They replaced Lucie and Luke Meier.
Versace — Dario Vitale
In 2025-03, Versace appointed Dario Vitale as chief creative officer. Joined from Miu Miu. They replaced Donatella Versace.
Gucci — Demna
On 2025-03-13, Gucci appointed Demna as artistic director. Joined from Balenciaga. They replaced Sabato De Sarno.
Maison Margiela — Glenn Martens
In 2025-01, Maison Margiela appointed Glenn Martens as creative director. Joined from Diesel and Y-Project. They replaced John Galliano.
Appointments in 2024
Dries Van Noten — Julian Klausner
On 2024-12-18, Dries Van Noten appointed Julian Klausner as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring. They replaced Dries Van Noten.
Bottega Veneta — Louise Trotter
On 2024-12-12, Bottega Veneta appointed Louise Trotter as creative director. Joined from Carven. They replaced Matthieu Blazy.
Chanel — Matthieu Blazy
On 2024-12-12, Chanel appointed Matthieu Blazy as artistic director. Joined from Bottega Veneta. They replaced Virginie Viard.
Missoni — Alberto Caliri
In 2024-10, Missoni appointed Alberto Caliri as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring. They replaced Filippo Grazioli.
Celine — Michael Rider
On 2024-10-02, Celine appointed Michael Rider as creative director. Joined from Polo Ralph Lauren. They replaced Hedi Slimane.
Givenchy — Sarah Burton
On 2024-09-09, Givenchy appointed Sarah Burton as creative director. Joined from Alexander McQueen. They replaced Matthew M. Williams.
Alberta Ferretti — Lorenzo Serafini
In 2024-09, Alberta Ferretti appointed Lorenzo Serafini as creative director. Joined from Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. They replaced Alberta Ferretti.
Tom Ford — Haider Ackermann
On 2024-09-04, Tom Ford appointed Haider Ackermann as creative director. Joined from Haider Ackermann. They replaced Peter Hawkings.
Uniqlo — Clare Waight Keller
In 2024-09, Uniqlo appointed Clare Waight Keller as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring.
Blumarine — David Koma
In 2024-06, Blumarine appointed David Koma as creative director. Joined from David Koma. They replaced Walter Chiapponi.
Lanvin — Peter Copping
In 2024-06, Lanvin appointed Peter Copping as artistic director. They replaced Bruno Sialelli.
Calvin Klein — Veronica Leoni
In 2024-05, Calvin Klein appointed Veronica Leoni as creative director. This appointment followed internal revival. Joined from The Row.
Bulgari — Mary Katrantzou
In 2024-04, Bulgari appointed Mary Katrantzou as creative director (leather and accessories). This appointment followed a newly created role. Joined from Mary Katrantzou.
Valentino — Alessandro Michele
On 2024-03-28, Valentino appointed Alessandro Michele as creative director. Joined from Gucci. They replaced Pierpaolo Piccioli.
Gap Inc. — Zac Posen
On 2024-02-05, Gap Inc. appointed Zac Posen as creative director. Joined from Zac Posen. This appointment followed a newly created role.
Moschino — Adrian Appiolaza
On 2024-01-30, Moschino appointed Adrian Appiolaza as creative director. Joined from Loewe. They replaced David Renne.
Appointments in 2023
Rochas — Alessandro Vigilante
On 2023-12-04, Rochas appointed Alessandro Vigilante as creative director. Joined from Gucci. They replaced Charles de Vilmorin.
Tod's — Matteo Tamburini
On 2023-12-01, Tod's appointed Matteo Tamburini as creative director. Joined from Bottega Veneta. They replaced Walter Chiapponi.
Chloé — Chemena Kamali
On 2023-10-09, Chloé appointed Chemena Kamali as creative director. Joined from Saint Laurent. They replaced Gabriela Hearst.
Alexander McQueen — Seán McGirr
On 2023-10-03, Alexander McQueen appointed Seán McGirr as creative director. Joined from JW Anderson. They replaced Sarah Burton.
Dunhill — Simon Holloway
In 2023, Dunhill appointed Simon Holloway as creative director. Joined from James Purdey & Sons. They replaced Mark Weston.
Fiorucci — Francesca Murri
On 2023-08-02, Fiorucci appointed Francesca Murri as artistic director. This appointment followed internal restructuring.
Ann Demeulemeester — Stefano Gallici
On 2023-06-01, Ann Demeulemeester appointed Stefano Gallici as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring. They replaced Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Tom Ford — Peter Hawkings
In 2023-05, Tom Ford appointed Peter Hawkings as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring. They replaced Tom Ford.
Helmut Lang — Peter Do
In 2023-05, Helmut Lang appointed Peter Do as artistic director. This appointment followed internal revival. Joined from Peter Do.
Lacoste — Pelagia Kolotouros
In 2023-02, Lacoste appointed Pelagia Kolotouros as creative director. Joined from Adidas. They replaced Louise Trotter.
Carven — Louise Trotter
In 2023-02, Carven appointed Louise Trotter as creative director. This appointment followed internal restructuring. Joined from Lacoste.
Louis Vuitton (Men's) — Pharrell Williams
On 2023-02-14, Louis Vuitton appointed Pharrell Williams as creative director (Men's). They replaced Virgil Abloh.
Gucci — Sabato De Sarno
On 2023-01-30, Gucci appointed Sabato De Sarno as creative director. Joined from Valentino. They replaced Alessandro Michele.
Ann Demeulemeester — Ludovic de Saint Sernin
In 2023-01, Ann Demeulemeester appointed Ludovic de Saint Sernin as creative director. This appointment followed internal revival. Joined from Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
Contribute updates and corrections
If you spot an incorrect date, title, predecessor, or “came from” credit, send a correction with a source link (brand announcement, reputable trade press, or an archived reference). If you have a missing appointment, send it the same way and it will be added with attribution to the source.
