This Just In: Anthony Vaccarello Has Left Saint Laurent After a Decade

Just when you thought that we had seen the end of fashion’s great reset, one of the most notable French couture houses is here to shake things up with the announcement that creative director Anthony Vaccarello has left Saint Laurent after a decade at the brand’s helm.

Vaccarello’s departure has been making its way through the fashion rumor mill since the summer, and his most recent show, presented late last month under the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower, felt like both a grand goodbye and a beautiful ode to his tenure at the House.

Today, his departure is no longer a rumor, with parent group Kering confirming Vaccarello’s departure in a statement released early this morning.

Vaccarello later posted a tribute to his decade at the House on his Instagram, aptly titled À bientôt, which translates to “see you soon.”

A Decade of Glitz, Glamour, and Modern Parisian Chic

Vaccarello, who joined Saint Laurent following the extremely fruitful four-year tenure of Hedi Slimane, has been celebrated for his unwavering point of view, which brought back the glitz, glam, and sex appeal of Yves Saint Laurent.

Vaccarello had a talent for paying tribute to the House’s founder and couture roots while still making his collections feel entirely modern.

His Spring 2027 collection, which largely felt like a grand farewell, was the perfect example of this, featuring a jaw-dropping parade of 49 all-gold looks, followed by a finale of ten all-black looks. This stark contrast was a play on Yves Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche 1991 collection, which transitioned from all black to all gold.

While Vaccarello’s work was widely beloved, it was also a financial success, with sales close to tripling during his tenure at Saint Laurent. While Vaccarello notoriously strayed from showing bags on the runway, his commercially driven accessories, which oozed Parisian chic with a sharp sensibility, largely fueled this growth in sales.

What’s Next for Anthony Vaccarello and Saint Laurent?

Under Vaccarello’s reign, Saint Laurent slowly shifted from an entirely logo-driven offering to one that had both depth and range, introducing cult-favorite pieces like the Le 5 à 7, Y Tote, and Icare Maxi Shopping Tote, among others.

What’s next for both Vaccarello and Saint Laurent? Kering has announced that a successor will be named in due time, and Vaccarello hints that we’ll see him soon.