Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen and Calvin Klein all lost their creative directors in 2026, with no successors named yet, while Dario Vitale landed at Emporio Armani and Grace Wales Bonner took over Hermès menswear. It caps the biggest designer reshuffle in modern luxury, which began in 2025 at Dior, Gucci, Balenciaga, Chanel and Loewe.
Who designs where now? The 2026 tracker
| House | Previous designer | Current or incoming | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Laurent | Anthony Vaccarello (2016–2026) | To be announced | Exit public in 2026 |
| Alexander McQueen | Seán McGirr (2023–2026) | To be announced | Exit public in 2026 |
| Calvin Klein Collection | Veronica Leoni (2024–2026) | To be announced | Announced Oct. 15, 2026 |
| Emporio Armani | — | Dario Vitale | Named September 2026 |
| Hermès (menswear) | Véronique Nichanian (1988–2026) | Grace Wales Bonner | Debut expected Jan. 2027 |
| Fendi | Silvia Venturini Fendi | Maria Grazia Chiuri | First show Feb. 2026 |
| Versace | Dario Vitale (2025) | — | Vitale left Dec. 2025 after Prada Group takeover |
| Dior | Maria Grazia Chiuri / Kim Jones | Jonathan Anderson | Women's and men's |
| Gucci | Sabato De Sarno | Demna | Since 2025 |
| Balenciaga | Demna | Pierpaolo Piccioli | Since 2025 |
| Loewe | Jonathan Anderson | Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez | Since 2025 |
| Chanel | Virginie Viard | Matthieu Blazy | Since 2025 |
| Bottega Veneta | Matthieu Blazy | Louise Trotter | Since 2025 |
| Celine | Hedi Slimane | Michael Rider | Since 2025 |
| Marni | Francesco Risso | Meryll Rogge | Since 2025 |
| Maison Margiela | John Galliano | Glenn Martens | Since 2025 |
| Jil Sander | Lucie and Luke Meier | Simone Bellotti | Since 2025 |
Which designers left in 2026?
Anthony Vaccarello, who has run Saint Laurent since 2016, is leaving the house, even as the CFDA names him International Designer of the Year; see our story on Vaccarello's Saint Laurent exit. Seán McGirr is out at Alexander McQueen after about three years; see McGirr leaving McQueen.
On October 15, Calvin Klein said Veronica Leoni will leave when her contract ends, after four seasons. A successor will be named "in due course," W Magazine reported. Details are in our story on Leoni leaving Calvin Klein.
At Hermès, Véronique Nichanian showed her 76th and final menswear collection on January 24, 2026, ending a 37-year run.
Who got new jobs in 2026?
Dario Vitale had the year's sharpest turnaround. Named Versace's chief creative officer in April 2025, he showed one collection before leaving in December 2025, after Prada Group bought the brand. In September 2026, Giorgio Armani appointed him creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani accessories, the Associated Press reported.
Maria Grazia Chiuri, who left Dior in 2025, debuted at Fendi in Milan in February 2026, according to Harper's Bazaar Singapore. Her reworked Croissant bag is already a celebrity favourite, The Zoe Report says.
Why are so many designers changing jobs?
Luxury sales have slowed after the post-pandemic boom, and groups such as Kering and LVMH are using new designers to reset their biggest brands. With sales under pressure, a new creative director has become the fastest lever a group can pull.
Who could fill the open jobs?
No successors have been confirmed at Saint Laurent, McQueen or Calvin Klein. Any names in circulation are speculation until the houses announce them. We will update this tracker as appointments are made.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026. Appointment details are from Harper's Bazaar Singapore, W Magazine, The Zoe Report and the Associated Press, and from earlier announcements by the brands.
