Creative director appointments in fashion
Updated: 11 May 2026
Appointment data last reviewed: 8 May 2026
Covers: 2023–2026
Track fashion creative director appointments, exits and career moves across major and independent houses. The page records who was appointed where, who they replaced, where they came from, and how each move connects back to brand timelines, creative eras, runway debuts and departures.
Use it as a quick map of fashion’s ongoing creative reshuffle: confirmed appointments, exits, predecessors and previous roles, with links back to the brand and people pages where the longer history lives.
Appointments in 2026
Canali has appointed former Prada and Brunello Cucinelli menswear designer Alessio Lillocci as creative director, with his first collection set to debut for Spring 2027.
May 8, 2026
A.P.C. has appointed Ludivine Poiblanc as artistic director, drawing from her career as a stylist and creative director for titles including The Wall Street Journal Magazine and from advisory work on product and visual identity. She takes over after Jean and Judith Touitou’s long founder-led creative structure; Judith Touitou had been A.P.C.’s artistic director for nearly 30 years, while Jean Touitou founded the Paris label in 1987.
May 6, 2026
Carven said Mark Thomas will leave the house at the end of April 2026 to pursue other opportunities. Thomas joined Carven in 2023 and was promoted to design director in March 2025 following Louise Trotter’s exit. The house added that its next steps would be announced later in 2026, and that its next show is planned for SS27.
April 2, 2026
Courrèges has appointed Drew Henry as artistic director, with the former Burberry senior design director set to join in May 2026 and debut for the house in September during Paris Fashion Week.
March 30, 2026
Mulberry has appointed Christopher Kane as creative director, with the Scottish designer set to relaunch the brand’s women’s ready-to-wear and debut in September 2026 during London Fashion Week.
March 26, 2026
Oakley has appointed Matthew M. Williams as creative director of apparel, footwear and accessories, signalling broader ambitions across performance and lifestyle.
March 26, 2026
Courrèges has parted ways with Nicolas Di Felice after five years, ending a tenure that gave the house a clear, contemporary edge while marking the next transition for both brand and designer.
March 24, 2026
Zara announced a two-year creative partnership with John Galliano to “re-author” Zara’s archive. The first collection is scheduled to arrive in September 2026.
March 17, 2026
Etro has no named creative director after Marco De Vincenzo’s mutually agreed exit, tied to a new strategic phase for the brand.
March 12, 2026
Nina Ricci has no named creative director after Harris Reed departed for his own label, Harris Reed.
March 11, 2026
Zadig & Voltaire appointed Dan Sablon as creative director. Joined from Vogue France. Replaced Cecilia Bönström.
February 24, 2026
Bally has no named creative director after Simone Bellotti departed for Jil Sander.
February 21, 2026
Noah appointed Brendon Babenzien as creative director, returning to the brand from J.Crew.
February 17, 2026
J.Crew has no named creative director after Brendon Babenzien departed for his own label, Noah.
February 16, 2026
Versace appointed Pieter Mulier as chief creative officer. Joined from Alaïa. Replaced Dario Vitale.
February 5, 2026
Alaïa has no named creative director after Pieter Mulier departed for Versace.
January 30, 2026
Records Stefano Gabbana's resignation as chair, effective 1 January 2026, with CEO Alfonso Dolce taking over as chair while Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana remained in charge of creative direction.
January 1, 2026
GU appointed Francesco Risso as creative director. Joined from Marni. The role was newly created.
2026
3.1 Phillip Lim appointed Michelle Rhee as creative director. Joined from JW Anderson. Replaced Phillip Lim.
2026
Appointments in 2025
Versace and Dario Vitale mutually agree to part ways; departure effective 12 December 2025.
December 4, 2025
7 For All Mankind appointed Nicola Brognano as creative director, tasking him with extending the brand’s denim-led identity into a broader and more cohesive fashion universe.
December 3, 2025
Fendi appointed Maria Grazia Chiuri as chief creative officer. Joined from Dior. Replaced Silvia Venturini.
November 14, 2025
Balmain appointed Antonin Tron as creative director. Joined from Atlein. Replaced Olivier Rousteing.
November 12, 2025
Hermès appointed Grace Wales Bonner as creative director (Men's). Joined from Wales Bonner. Replaced Véronique Nichanian.
October 21, 2025
Bosideng appointed Kim Jones as creative director (premium line Areal). Joined from Dior. The role was newly created.
October 20, 2025
Christian Louboutin appointed Jaden Smith as creative director (Men's). The role was newly created.
September 17, 2025
Proenza Schouler appointed Rachel Scott as creative director. Joined from Diotima. Replaced "Proenza boys" Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.
September 2, 2025
Marni appointed Meryll Rogge as creative director. Joined from Meryll Rogge. Replaced Francesco Risso.
July 15, 2025
Pangaia appointed Kevin Grandal as creative director. Joined from 1017 ALYX 9SM. The appointment followed internal restructuring.
July 1, 2025
OTB announces Francesco Risso is leaving Marni after a decade at the house.
June 18, 2025
Dior appointed Jonathan Anderson as creative director. Joined from Loewe. Replaced Maria Grazia Chiuri and Kim Jones.
June 2, 2025
Maria Grazia Chiuri stepped down from Dior womenswear and couture after closing her tenure with the Cruise 2026 show in Rome.
May 29, 2025
Balenciaga appointed Pierpaolo Piccioli as creative director. Joined from Valentino. Replaced Demna.
May 19, 2025
Dior appointed Jonathan Anderson artistic director of menswear ahead of his later promotion to the full house.
April 17, 2025
Jean Paul Gaultier appointed Duran Lantink as creative director. Joined from Duran Lantink.
April 14, 2025
Mugler appointed Miguel Castro Freitas as creative director. Joined from Sportmax. Replaced Casey Cadwallader.
April 1, 2025
Versace appointed Dario Vitale as chief creative officer. Joined from Miu Miu. Replaced Donatella Versace.
April 1, 2025
Mugler confirms Casey Cadwallader’s departure (effective end of March 2025).
March 25, 2025
Loewe appointed Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez as creative directors. Joined from Proenza Schouler. Replaced Jonathan Anderson.
March 24, 2025
Loewe announced Jonathan Anderson’s departure after eleven years leading the house.
March 17, 2025
Donatella Versace stepped down as Versace’s chief creative officer and moved into a chief brand ambassador role.
March 13, 2025
Jil Sander appointed Simone Bellotti as creative director. Joined from Bally. Replaced Lucie and Luke Meier.
March 10, 2025
Carven appointed Mark Howard Thomas as director of design. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Replaced Louise Trotter.
March 9, 2025
Area appointed Nicholas Aburn as creative director. Joined from Balenciaga (couture studio). Replaced Piotrek Panszczyk.
February 7, 2025
Kering announced Gucci and Sabato De Sarno ended their collaboration.
February 5, 2025
FamilyMart appointed Nigo as creative director to shape next-generation stores, product strategy and branding.
February 5, 2025
Kim Jones exited Dior menswear after his seven-year tenure at the house.
January 31, 2025
Maison Margiela appointed Glenn Martens as creative director. Joined from Diesel and Y-Project. Replaced John Galliano.
January 31, 2025
Louise Trotter begins her tenure at Bottega Veneta, ushering in a new creative direction.
January 30, 2025
Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez announced they were stepping down from day-to-day creative leadership at Proenza Schouler.
January 15, 2025
Michael Rider takes the reins at Celine, beginning a new era for the French house.
January 1, 2025
Appointments in 2024
Bottega Veneta appointed Louise Trotter as creative director. Joined from Carven. Replaced Matthieu Blazy.
December 12, 2024
Chanel appointed Matthieu Blazy as artistic director. Joined from Bottega Veneta. Replaced Virginie Viard.
December 12, 2024
Dries Van Noten appointed Julian Klausner as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Replaced Dries Van Noten.
December 9, 2024
Alberta Ferretti appointed Lorenzo Serafini as creative director. Joined from Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. Replaced Alberta Ferretti.
October 15, 2024
Missoni appointed Alberto Caliri as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Replaced Filippo Grazioli.
October 3, 2024
Hedi Slimane exited Celine on October 2, 2024, ending a highly influential and commercially defining chapter at the house.
October 2, 2024
Celine appointed Michael Rider as creative director. Joined from Polo Ralph Lauren. Replaced Hedi Slimane.
October 2, 2024
Givenchy appointed Sarah Burton as creative director. Joined from Alexander McQueen. Replaced Matthew M. Williams.
September 9, 2024
Uniqlo appointed Clare Waight Keller as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring.
September 4, 2024
Tom Ford appointed Haider Ackermann as creative director. Joined from Haider Ackermann. Replaced Peter Hawkings.
September 4, 2024
Blumarine appointed David Koma as creative director. Joined from David Koma. Replaced Walter Chiapponi.
July 31, 2024
Lanvin appointed Peter Copping as artistic director. Replaced Bruno Sialelli.
June 27, 2024
Virginie Viard departed Chanel on June 5, 2024, creating the year's most prestigious open creative-director vacancy.
June 5, 2024
Calvin Klein appointed Veronica Leoni as creative director. The appointment followed internal revival. Joined from The Row.
May 30, 2024
Bulgari appointed Mary Katrantzou as creative director (leather and accessories). The role was newly created. Joined from Mary Katrantzou.
April 2, 2024
Valentino appointed Alessandro Michele as creative director. Joined from Gucci. Replaced Pierpaolo Piccioli.
March 28, 2024
Pierpaolo Piccioli departed Valentino on March 22, 2024, ending one of the decade's most distinctive luxury-house creative tenures.
March 22, 2024
Gap Inc. appointed Zac Posen as creative director. Joined from Zac Posen. The role was newly created.
February 5, 2024
Moschino appointed Adrian Appiolaza as creative director. Joined from Loewe. Replaced David Renne.
January 30, 2024
Appointments in 2023
Rochas appointed Alessandro Vigilante as creative director. Joined from Gucci. Replaced Charles de Vilmorin.
December 4, 2023
Tod's appointed Matteo Tamburini as creative director. Joined from Bottega Veneta. Replaced Walter Chiapponi.
December 1, 2023
Givenchy announced Matthew M. Williams's departure, effective at the end of 2023.
November 30, 2023
Blumarine appointed Walter Chiapponi as creative director. Joined from Tod's. Replaced Nicola Brognano.
November 1, 2023
Blumarine and Nicola Brognano ended their collaboration after four years.
October 19, 2023
Moschino appointed Davide Renne as creative director. Joined from Gucci. Replaced Jeremy Scott.
October 16, 2023
Chloé appointed Chemena Kamali as creative director. Joined from Saint Laurent. Replaced Gabriela Hearst.
October 9, 2023
Alexander McQueen appointed Seán McGirr as creative director. Joined from JW Anderson. Replaced Sarah Burton.
October 3, 2023
Moschino staged a 40th-anniversary collection built by four different stylists while the creative director role remained vacant.
September 21, 2023
Alexander McQueen announced the end of its collaboration with Sarah Burton after more than two decades.
September 11, 2023
Tremaine Emory resigned as Supreme creative director, publicly citing systemic racism and disputes over a shelved project.
August 30, 2023
Fiorucci appointed Francesca Murri as artistic director. The appointment followed internal restructuring.
August 2, 2023
Chloé confirmed that Gabriela Hearst would leave after presenting the Spring 2024 collection.
July 6, 2023
Ann Demeulemeester appointed Stefano Gallici as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Replaced Ludovic de Saint Sernin.
June 1, 2023
Appointed as design director following Rhuigi Villaseñor’s exit. Joined from Gucci.
May 31, 2023
Ludovic de Saint Sernin left Ann Demeulemeester after one collection.
May 21, 2023
Bally and Rhuigi Villaseñor parted ways in May 2023.
May 16, 2023
Helmut Lang appointed Peter Do as artistic director. The appointment marked a renewed push to reactivate the house on the runway.
May 10, 2023
Tom Ford appointed Peter Hawkings as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Replaced Tom Ford.
April 28, 2023
Lanvin confirmed Bruno Sialelli's departure as part of a broader creative reorganisation.
April 14, 2023
Dunhill appointed Simon Holloway as creative director. Joined from James Purdey & Sons. Replaced Mark Weston.
April 12, 2023
Charles de Vilmorin’s contract at Rochas ended on 31 March 2023.
March 31, 2023
Jeremy Scott stepped down as Moschino creative director after a decade at the house.
March 20, 2023
Carven appointed Louise Trotter as creative director. The appointment followed internal restructuring. Joined from Lacoste.
February 22, 2023
Louis Vuitton appointed Pharrell Williams as creative director (Men's). Replaced Virgil Abloh.
February 14, 2023
Lacoste appointed Pelagia Kolotouros as creative director. Joined from Adidas. Replaced Louise Trotter.
February 6, 2023
Gucci appointed Sabato De Sarno as creative director. Joined from Valentino. Replaced Alessandro Michele.
January 28, 2023
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.
