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A decade at Saint Laurent, the business results, the final show and who could be next
On October 9, 2026, Saint Laurent and its parent group Kering confirmed that Anthony Vaccarello is leaving his role as creative director after ten years. The exit followed weeks of speculation and came after a lavish spring/summer 2027 show at Paris Fashion Week on September 29, which is now confirmed as his final collection for the house.
This guide looks at who Vaccarello is, what he did at Saint Laurent, the business results of his decade, what the house said, and who might come next.
Vaccarello is a Belgian-Italian designer who graduated from La Cambre in Brussels and launched his own label in 2009. He later worked as creative director of Versus Versace while continuing to build his eponymous brand. In 2016 he was named creative director of Saint Laurent, taking over after the exit of Hedi Slimane.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Launches his own label |
| 2016 | Appointed creative director of Saint Laurent |
| 2023 | Launches Saint Laurent Productions, the house's film arm |
| March 2025 | Saint Laurent reported at around $3 billion in business, per W Magazine |
| First half of 2026 | Kering reports a return to growth |
| September 29, 2026 | Final show, spring/summer 2027, Paris Fashion Week |
| October 9, 2026 | Kering and Saint Laurent confirm his departure |
Kering CEO Luca de Meo expressed sincere gratitude for Vaccarello's contribution over ten years. Saint Laurent president and CEO Cédric Charbit praised his dedication and said he took the house to the forefront of desirability and image, achieving exceptional creative work and cultural impact. The house said new creative leadership would be announced soon. Vaccarello's next role has not been announced.
Rather than reinventing the house each season, Vaccarello developed a disciplined approach to its archive, revisiting specific periods of Yves Saint Laurent's work and translating them into a modern wardrobe. His signature elements, as described in fashion coverage, include:
He worked with prominent ambassadors including Zoë Kravitz, Rosé and Dua Lipa, and campaign stars such as Zoe Saldaña and Hailey Bieber.
In 2023 Vaccarello led the launch of Saint Laurent Productions, described as the first luxury brand to own a full film production studio. Its projects include Emilia Pérez. The move extended Saint Laurent's cultural reach from the runway into cinema.
Because the departure comes at a high point, it is an unusual moment for a designer to leave, and it puts attention on how Kering manages the handover.
Saint Laurent has not named a successor. Rumours cited by RUSSH point to Chemena Kamali, currently creative director at Chloé, who earlier served as womenswear design director at Saint Laurent under Vaccarello. This remains speculation, and neither Kering nor Saint Laurent has confirmed any candidate.
Kering is under pressure to maintain momentum, having reported a return to growth in the first half of 2026. Saint Laurent is one of its most important brands, so the choice of successor will be closely watched by investors and the fashion industry. The new creative director will face the task of taking the house in a new direction while keeping the glamour that defined Vaccarello's era.
When did Vaccarello leave Saint Laurent?
His departure was confirmed on October 9, 2026, after a decade in the role.
What was his last collection?
The spring/summer 2027 womenswear show at Paris Fashion Week on September 29, 2026.
Who is replacing him?
No successor has been announced. Chemena Kamali has been rumoured but not confirmed.
Where is Vaccarello going next?
That has not been announced.
How did Saint Laurent perform under him?
It became one of Kering's most profitable brands, with reported sales growth of nearly three times and a business valued at around $3 billion as of March 2025.
Information is based on reports from The National, W Magazine, RUSSH, USA Today, Grazia and others as of October 10, 2026, and may change.
