Anthony Vaccarello
Creative director of Saint Laurent since April 2016
Anthony Vaccarello is a Belgian designer who has been creative director of Saint Laurent since April 2016, a period in which the house's revenue more than doubled and it came to be seen as the most stable brand in Kering's portfolio. He also founded Saint Laurent Productions, the house's film company. In September 2026 reports said he would step down after his Spring/Summer 2027 show, but as of early October 2026 neither Kering nor Saint Laurent had confirmed a departure.
| Role | Creative director, Saint Laurent |
|---|---|
| Since | April 2016 |
| Owner | Kering |
| Education | La Cambre, Brussels (2006) |
| Born | 1982, Brussels |
| Nationality | Belgian |
Who is Anthony Vaccarello?
Anthony Vaccarello was born in Brussels in 1982 to a family of Italian heritage. He studied at La Cambre in Brussels, first sculpture and then fashion, graduating in 2006. His style combines pronounced shoulders, sharp tailoring, short hemlines and luxurious materials with a dark, sensual minimalism.
Career
His graduate collection won attention at the Hyères festival in 2006, after which Karl Lagerfeld offered him a role designing fur at Fendi. He launched his own label in Paris in 2009, won the ANDAM prize in 2011 and later led the Versus line at Versace. In April 2016 Kering named him creative director of Saint Laurent, succeeding Hedi Slimane.
- 2006: graduates from La Cambre and shows at Hyères
- 2006 to 2008: fur designer at Fendi
- 2009: launches his own label
- 2011: wins the ANDAM prize
- 2014 to 2016: Versus Versace
- April 2016: creative director of Saint Laurent
Influence on the fashion business
Vaccarello's tenure has coincided with strong growth. Industry reporting puts Saint Laurent's revenue at about 1.2 billion euros in 2016 and about 2.64 billion euros in 2025, and the house is often described as the most stable brand in the Kering portfolio. He extended the brand into culture with Saint Laurent Productions, a film company that has worked with directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and David Cronenberg, and opened the concept store Saint Laurent Babylone in Paris.
In September 2026 the Council of Fashion Designers of America announced that it would honour him as International Designer of the Year. In the same month several outlets reported that he was set to leave the house after its Spring/Summer 2027 show on 29 September 2026, staged at the Trocadéro in Paris. As of early October 2026 neither Kering nor Saint Laurent had officially confirmed his departure. Kering chief executive Luca de Meo was reported to be considering a successor, and trade press suggested that any announcement might follow the CFDA Awards on 2 November 2026, where Vaccarello is due to receive his award.
Why it matters
Vaccarello is one of the few creative directors of his generation to deliver a long, stable tenure at a major house during a turbulent period for luxury. His use of film production to build brand meaning, and the commercial results achieved under him, make Saint Laurent a reference case for how creative direction and brand strategy align.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Anthony Vaccarello?
Anthony Vaccarello is a Belgian fashion designer who has been creative director of Saint Laurent since April 2016. He previously ran his own label and led Versus Versace.
Is Anthony Vaccarello leaving Saint Laurent?
In September 2026 several outlets reported that he would step down after the Spring/Summer 2027 show. As of early October 2026 neither Kering nor Saint Laurent had officially confirmed the departure, and he remained creative director.