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Jeannette Montgomery-Barron

Fashion

Your Definitive Guide to Luxury Fashion's Game of Creative Director Musical Chairs

Emporio Armani just named Dario Vitale as its new creative director.

Your Definitive Guide to Luxury Fashion's Game of Creative Director Musical Chairs

Emporio Armani just named Dario Vitale as its new creative director.

After months and months of updates from the likes of Donatella Versace, Demna and Jonathan Anderson, it’s safe to say that the term “luxury slowdown” doesn’t refer to the recent slew of creative director announcements. With that in mind, it’s sort of becoming impossible to keep up with who’s left what brand and where they’ve ended up. As a result, we thought it would be worth our time to start keeping track of the latest shakeups.

In the last year, we’ve witnessed Maria Grazia Chiuri leave Dior, Casey Cadwallader step down from Mugler, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez replace Jonathan Anderson at LOEWE, Demna leave Balenciaga for Gucci and Donatella step down as chief creative officer. In December 2024, we saw the departure of Matthieu Blazy from Bottega Veneta, who then moved over to Chanel, leaving Louise Trotter as his replacement. We also saw Dries Van Noten step down from his namesake label, naming Julian Klausner as the brand’s new creative director, plus the appointment of David Koma at Blumarine.

Alongside new appointments, this means there’s still a slew of eligible creative directors without positions, rumored to take over at other luxury labels. For example, the likes of Kim Jones, John Galliano and Riccardo Tisci remain to be placed…

To keep up with the latest news, we’ve compiled an ongoing guide to the creative directors — past and present — of luxury fashion’s biggest brands. From Balenciaga to Blazy, you’ll find everything you need to know below.

Scroll down for your definitive guide to luxury’s creative directors, old and new.

Emporio Armani’s Creative Director: Dario Vitale

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background After stepping down from Versace after less than a year, Dario Vitale has just been appointed the creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani accessories. In a press release, the designer shared: “I am honored to take on this dual role across Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani, and deeply grateful to Silvana and Leo for welcoming me into their world. Armani has a powerful legacy and unmistakable design language; a heritage that has spanned decades and shaped the history of fashion. I approach all of this with a deep sense of responsibility and excitement as we build upon that rich foundation, defining a new era together.”

Rabanne’s Creative Director: Olivier Rousteing

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background
Julien Dossena announced his departure from Rabanne in June. In a statement, the designer said: “I would like to thank the Puig family and Group for their trust and for supporting my vision over thirteen years. I’m equally grateful to my teams, ateliers, and collaborators, whose craft and commitment made the work possible. This defining creative chapter at the helm of Rabanne will always have a significant resonance to me, both professionally and personally.” Less than a month later, the brand announced Olivier Rousteing, formerly of Balmain, as Dossena’s replacement.

Nina Ricci’s New Creative Director: TBC

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background
Harris Reed just announced his departure from Nina Ricci, after four years as the brand’s creative director. In a statement, Reed said, “I have loved Nina Ricci and this extraordinary team with my entire heart, and I’ve cherished every second of this beautiful chapter with the house. This experience will always remain a deeply personal milestone. It’s something I carry with immense pride.” At present, Reed’s replacement has not yet been named.

Versace’s Creative Director: Pieter Mulier

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Donatella Versace stepped down as the brand’s creative director in March 2025, taking on the new role of chief brand officer instead, leaving Dario Vitale to helm Versace as chief creative officer. Two days after the Prada Group’s acquisition of Versace was confirmed, Vitale’s exit was announced by the Italian brand. Now, Pieter Mulier, who recently exited alaia, has been named the brand’s new creative director.

Balmain’s Creative Director: Antonin Tron

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Earlier this month, Olivier Rousteing announced his exit from Balmain after an incredible 14 years at the brand. Speaking about the decision to step down, the designer shared, “I am deeply proud of all that I’ve accomplished, and profoundly grateful to my exceptional team at Balmain, my chosen family, in a place that has been my home for the past 14 years. My thanks go to Mr. Rachid Mohamed Rachid and Matteo Sgarbossa for their unwavering belief in me and for entrusting me with this extraordinary opportunity. As I look ahead to the future and the next chapter of my creative journey, I will always hold this treasured time close to my heart.” His replacement has since been confirmed, tapping ATLEIN’s Antonin Tron as Rousteing’s successor.

Hermes’ New Creative Director: Grace Wales Bonner for Menswear

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Grace Wales Bonner was just named the new Creative Director of Hermes menswear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian. The new appointment also makes Bonner the first Black woman to lead design at a major European luxury house, according to The Business of Fashion.

The British designer will succeed Véronique Nichanian as the brand’s creative director of men’s ready-to-wear, becoming the first Black woman to lead design at a major European luxury house.

Fendi’s Creative Director: Maria Grazia Chiuri

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background After Karl Lagerfeld in 2019, Silvia Venturini Fendi took over the creation of both Fendi‘s menswear and womenswear. In 2020, Kim Jones was appointed the brand’s artistic director for womenswear, before leaving in 2024. Silvia was the brand’s creative director up until September 2025, at which point she announced she’d be exiting the role in order to become the house’s “honorary president.” As of October 2025, Maria Grazia Chiuri is the brand’s new creative director.

“I return to FENDI with honour and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the House’s founders, the five sisters. FENDI has always been a forge of talents and a starting point for many creatives in the industry, thanks to the extraordinary ability of these five women to foster and nurture generations of vision and skill. I am grateful to Mr. Arnault for entrusting me with the task of helping to write a new chapter in the history of this extraordinary women-founded company,” the designer shared in a press release.

Proenza Schouler’s Creative Director: Rachel Scott

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background
Rachel Scott was just named the new Creative Director of Proenza Schouler, taking over from Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. Her debut showcase will take place in February 2026 with the Fall/Winter 2026 collection. “It is with great excitement that I join Proenza Schouler, a brand at the heart of American Fashion, and one I have long admired. I hold deep respect for the beauty and world Jack and Lazaro so brilliantly crafted, and I look forward to bringing my perspective into dialogue with their legacy. I am grateful to Shira for her trust and I am honored to step into this role to envision the next chapter of Proenza Schouler,” Scott shared in a statement.

Marni’s Creative Director: Meryll Rogge

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background As of July 15, 2025, Belgian designer Meryll Rogge is Marni’s new Creative Director, taking over from Francesco Risso. Rogge is one of the few women to be named in this year’s luxury announcements and comes from previous appointments at Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten.

Dior’s Creative Director: Jonathan Anderson

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background John Galliano was the creative director of Dior from 1996 to 2011, replaced by Raf Simons in 2012. In 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri was appointed women’s artistic director and has just announced her departure. “After nine years, I am leaving Dior, delighted to have been given this extraordinary opportunity. I would like to thank Monsieur Arnault for placing his trust in me and Delphine for her support. I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and the Ateliers. Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women’s fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists. Together, we have written an impactful chapter of which I am immensely proud,” she shared in a statement. For menswear, Kim Jones was appointed as men’s artistic director in 2018 and announced his departure in January of this year.

Jonathan Anderson has now been named Creative Director for both menswear and womenswear, as of June 2, 2025. “It is a great honor to join the House of Dior as Creative Director of both women’s and men’s collections. I have always been inspired by the rich history of this House, its depth, and empathy. I look forward to working alongside its legendary Ateliers to craft the next chapter of this incredible story,” the designer said in a statement.

Balenciaga’s Creative Director: Pierpaolo Piccioli

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Demna was the creative director of Balenciaga before moving to Gucci. As of May 19, 2025, Pierpaolo Piccioli has been named the new creative director of Balenciaga, coming from Valentino. Piccioli is set to debut his first collection for the house in October 2025. “Balenciaga is what it is today thanks to all the people who have paved the way. In all its phases, while constantly evolving and changing, it has never lost track of the House’s aesthetic values,” Piccioli shared in a statement.

“What I am receiving is a brand full of possibilities that is incredibly fascinating. I must first and foremost thank Demna; I’ve always admired his talent and vision. I couldn’t ask for a better passing of the torch. This gives me the chance to shape a new version of the Maison, adding another chapter with a new story. I am grateful for the trust that François-Henri, Francesca and Gianfranco are giving me. We were effortlessly on the same page from the start, and that is the best way to begin something new,” he continued.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s Creative Director: Duran Lantink

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Jean Paul Gaultier announced his retirement from the brand back in 2020, leading to a series of guest designer couture shows featuring the likes of Simone Rocha, Julien Dossena and Haider Ackermann. Now, JPG has just announced that rising designer Duran Lantink will end the brand’s “collaborative era” and become its permanent creative director. “I see in him the energy, audacity, and playful spirit through fashion that I had at the beginning of my own journey: the new enfant terrible of fashion. Welcome, Duran,” Gaultier said in a statement.

Mugler’s Creative Director: Miguel Castro Freitas

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Miguel Castro Freitas has just been named Mugler‘s new creative director, replacing Casey Cadwallader who was at the helm of the brand for seven years. Freitas comes from a storied career in fashion, previously working under Raf Simons at Dior and with Dries Van Noten at his namesake label.

Prada’s Creative Directors: Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background In April 2020, it was announced that Raf Simons would join Miuccia Prada as a co-creative director. Since then, the duo have been working on both the brand’s womenswear and menswear collections. Previously, Miuccia Prada served as Prada‘s sole creative director.

Gucci’s Creative Director: Demna

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background In 1994, Tom Ford was named creative director of Gucci, serving the brand for 10 years before exiting. Following Ford’s departure, Gucci worked with John Ray and Alessandra Facchinetti, who later became the brand’s creative directors for menswear and womenswear, respectively. Facchinetti designed for Gucci for just two seasons before leaving, which led Frida Giannini to take the reigns as creative director of womenswear, before taking over altogether in 2006. In January 2015, Alessandro Michele was named Gucci’s new creative director, followed by Sabato de Sarno in 2023. Most recently, the brand has named Balenciaga’s Demna as its new creative director, effective from July 2025.

Saint Laurent’s Creative Director: Anthony Vaccarello

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background At present, Anthony Vaccarello is the creative director of Saint Laurent and has been since April 2016. Prior to Vaccarello, Saint Laurent had appointed Hedi Slimane as its creative director in 2012, returning to the brand that he’d worked for as art director back in 2012.

Louis Vuitton’s Creative Directors: Nicolas Ghesquière and Pharrell Williams

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Marc Jacobs was made Louis Vuitton‘s artistic director in 1997, replaced by Nicolas Ghesquière in 2013, who became the house’s artistic director of women’s collections. In 2011, Kim Jones was named artistic director for menswear, replaced by Virgil Abloh in 2018. After the tragic passing of Abloh in 2021, Pharrell Williams was named LV’s creative director of menswear.

Jil Sander’s Creative Director: Simone Bellotti

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Simone Bellotti is the current creative director at Jil Sander, replacing Lucie and Luke Meyers, who announced their departure in February 2025.

Burberry’s Creative Director: Daniel Lee

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Daniel Lee is Burberry‘s current creative director, though industry rumors suggest he’ll soon be stepping down. Before Lee, Christopher Bailey was at the helm of the brand and had been since May 2001.

Bottega Veneta’s Creative Director: Louise Trotter

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Louise Trotter is currently the creative director for Bottega Veneta, replacing Matthieu Blazy, who stepped down in December 2024. Prior to Blazy, Daniel Lee held the title, appointed in 2018 and left in 2021.

CELINE’s Creative Director: Michael Rider

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Michael Rider is the current creative director at CELINE, following on from Hedi Slimane, who was appointed in 2018 and exited the brand in 2024. Prior to Slimane, Phoebe Philo was at the helm, serving the brand from 2008 to 2018.

Chanel’s Creative Director: Matthieu Blazy

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Matthieu Blazy was recently appointed creative director of Chanel after leaving his role at Bottega Veneta. Before Blazy, Virginie Vard held the role, first appointed in 2019.

Diesel’s Creative Director: Glenn Martens

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Glenn Martens is still (thankfully) the creative director of Diesel, first appointed in 2020. Before Martens, Nicola Formichetti held the title of artistic director, having the role back in 2013.

Maison Margiela’s Creative Director: Glenn Martens

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Glenn Martens is also the new creative director of Maison Margiela, taking over from John Galliano earlier this year.

LOEWE’s Creative Directors: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Jonathan Anderson left LOEWE after an incredible 11 years as its creative director just this month. Now, the official announcement of who is set to replace him has landed. Formerly of Proenza Schouler, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez will be replacing Anderson, looking after all of LOEWE collections from April 7th. Of course, rumors continue to infiltrate industry conversations, with many insiders suspecting that Anderson will soon take over at Dior.

Miu Miu’s Creative Director: Miuccia Prada

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Miuccia Prada is the creative director of Miu Miu and has been since she created it, so it’s unlikely we’ll see any movement there any time soon — but anything’s possible.

McQueen’s Creative Director: Sean McGirr

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Sean McGirr was recently named McQueen‘s new creative director, joining the brand in October 2023. Sarah Burton was McQueen’s creative director from 2010 till 2023, taking over the brand after Alexander McQueen died.

Givenchy’s Creative Director: Sarah Burton

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Sarah Burton joined Givenchy in 2024, taking over from Matthew Williams, who was at the helm of the brand from 2020 to 2023. Before Williams, Clare Waight Keller was the brand’s creative director from 2017 to 2020.

Moschino’s Creative Directors: Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo

dario vitale, man, shirt, tie, jeans, sitting, white wall background Moschino‘s current creative directors are Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo, formerly of Sunnei. They take the reins from Adrian Appiolaza, who took over the brand after Davide Renne sadly passed away — less than a month after he was named Jeremy Scott‘s replacement. Before Renne, Scott was the brand’s creative director for 10 years, appointed in 2023.