Anthony Vaccarello leaves Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director
Kering has confirmed that Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after ten years as creative director. No successor has been named, and Chloé's Chemena Kamali is widely tipped.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Kering has confirmed that Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director, following weeks of rumours. The NationalN “Following weeks of rumours, global luxury fashion group Kering has confirmed that creative director Anthony Vaccarello has exited Saint Laurent.” Read at The National ↗ IJRRC “Anthony Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director, a role he took on in 2016.” Read at IJR ↗ Centre · 1The Belgian designer was appointed in 2016 to succeed Hedi Slimane. The NationalN “Appointed in 2016 to succeed” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2His final show, held in Paris on 29 September, was widely regarded as a farewell; IJR describes it as a gold-themed Spring 2027 show praised by critics. The NationalN “The Belgian designer's final show with Saint Laurent, held in Paris on September 29” Read at The National ↗ IJRRC “His gold-themed Spring 2027 show in Paris was widely seen as a farewell and praised by critics.” Read at IJR ↗
Centre · 1Kering said Vaccarello had "played a key role in Saint Laurent's development". Saint Laurent chief executive Cedric Charbit praised his "dedication", and Kering chief executive Luca de Meo said the group was embarking on "a new chapter" in the house's history. The NationalN “played a key role in Saint Laurent's development, helping to strengthen its identity and influence across the worlds of fashion and culture”“as we embark on a new chapter in its history” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets credit him with raising the house's global profile and cultural influence, including through a film-production arm launched in 2023. IJRRC “he strengthened the house’s global profile and cultural influence, including through film production” Read at IJR ↗ The NationalN “Saint Laurent launching its own film-production arm in 2023” Read at The National ↗ Mixed · 2The National says revenue tripled under him to €3.3 billion before falling to €2.6 billion in 2025; IJR says sales passed €3 billion in 2023 and that revenues fell in 2024 and 2025. The NationalN “the house's revenue tripled to €3.3 billion, before falling to €2.6 billion in 2025” Read at The National ↗ IJRRC “helped it surpass €3 billion in annual sales in 2023”“Saint Laurent’s revenues fell in 2024 and 2025” Read at IJR ↗
Mixed · 2The exit comes amid weaker luxury demand and a Kering overhaul under De Meo, described by The National as 18 months long, with plans to expand Saint Laurent's menswear and jewellery. The NationalN “the luxury group is undergoing an 18-month overhaul aimed at reviving its brands, with plans to expand Saint Laurent's menswear and jewellery collections” Read at The National ↗ IJRRC “Kering and the wider luxury sector face weaker demand and economic uncertainty” Read at IJR ↗ Mixed · 2No successor has been announced. IJR says Kering will announce new creative leadership soon and gave no reason for the departure. Both name Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali as a possible successor, with no appointment confirmed. IJRRC “Kering said it would announce new creative leadership soon but gave no reason for Vaccarello’s departure” Read at IJR ↗ The NationalN “Kering has yet to announce a replacement, although Chemena Kamali, currently creative director of Chloe, is already being mentioned as a possible successor.” Read at The National ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Profile-style exit story with Kering and Saint Laurent executives' tributes and an assessment of his design legacy.
- Emphasis
- Executive quotes, runway spectacle, the revenue rise and fall, and Kering's overhaul.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say Kering gave no reason for the departure.
- Charged language
- “razor-sharp tailoring”
- For example
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“Vaccarello leaves behind a legacy with the label.” — The National
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Short business brief on the departure, tied to weaker luxury demand and falling revenue.
- Emphasis
- Business context, the lack of a stated reason, and the Kamali succession speculation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No executive quotes; no mention of the De Meo overhaul.
- For example
-
“The departure comes as Kering and the wider luxury sector face weaker demand and economic uncertainty” — IJR
What every side reports
- Vaccarello is leaving Saint Laurent after a decade as creative director, having started in 2016.
- His Paris show was widely seen as a farewell.
- Revenues fell in 2025 after strong growth.
- Kering has named no successor; Chemena Kamali is tipped.
Where accounts differ
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Annual sales figures
- Centre
- Revenue tripled to €3.3 billion, then fell to €2.6 billion in 2025.
- Right
- Sales passed €3 billion in 2023; revenues fell in 2024 and 2025.
Kering organisation
Kering confirmed the exit, praised his role in Saint Laurent's development, and framed it as a new chapter; it gave no reason, per IJR.
“as we embark on a new chapter in its history” — The National
“gave no reason for Vaccarello’s departure” — IJR
Saint Laurent organisation
Chief executive Cedric Charbit credited Vaccarello with taking the house to the forefront of desirability and image.
“elevating the house to the forefront of desirability and image” — The National
Anthony Vaccarello person
No statement from Vaccarello appears in the coverage; his final show was read as a farewell.
“His gold-themed Spring 2027 show in Paris was widely seen as a farewell” — IJR
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Anthony Vaccarello exits Saint Laurent after a decade
Sympathetic Legacy-focused account with executive tributes and praise of his aesthetic, plus business context.
Right1 article
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IJRRC ·
Saint Laurent's Vaccarello Leaves After Decade
Neutral Concise brief on the exit set against falling revenue and weak luxury demand.
- 9 Oct 07:36 First IJRRC Saint Laurent's Vaccarello Leaves After Decade
- 9 Oct 11:00 +3h 25m The NationalN Anthony Vaccarello exits Saint Laurent after a decade
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.