Nicolas Di Felice

Nicolas Di Felice is a Belgian fashion designer who served as artistic director of the French house Courrèges from September 2020 until March 2026. Trained at La Cambre and shaped by years with Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, he is credited with a creative and commercial renaissance of the label owned by the Pinault family's holding company Artémis.

Who is Nicolas Di Felice?

Nicolas Di Felice is a Belgian designer, born in Charleroi in Wallonia, who became one of the most closely watched creative directors in Paris during the early 2020s. As artistic director of Courrèges from 2020 to 2026, he took a house best remembered for André Courrèges' futuristic 1960s designs and made it relevant again for a younger audience. Courrèges is owned by Artémis, the holding company of François Pinault and his family.

Career

Di Felice studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts visuels de La Cambre in Brussels, graduating in 2008, and took part in the International Talent Support competition in Trieste in 2007. He then joined Balenciaga, where he spent around six years working under Nicolas Ghesquière. After a short period at Dior during Raf Simons' tenure, he followed Ghesquière to Louis Vuitton, where he worked for about five years as a senior womenswear designer with responsibility for tailored pieces.

Courrèges announced his appointment as artistic director on 10 September 2020, succeeding Yolanda Zobel, with a debut collection planned for March 2021. On 24 March 2026 the house announced that he was stepping down after five years, and named a successor the following week. Di Felice thanked François Pinault and François-Henri Pinault for their trust. In the months after his exit, press reports speculated about a possible move to Alaïa, but no appointment had been confirmed at the time of writing.

Influence on the fashion business

Courrèges itself described his tenure as a creative and commercial renaissance that reconnected the house with younger audiences. His approach was based on recovering historical codes such as vinyl, geometric lines and a direct sensuality, and turning them into recognisable products. Key elements of his strategy included:

• Signature categories such as vinyl jackets, go go boots, ribbed knitwear and distinctive bags
• A line of Rééditions reworking archive pieces
• An expansion from four to six collections a year, including menswear
• New boutiques in Paris and New York and a programme of music events

His runway shows, which often used theatrical staging, also generated strong social media momentum for a brand that had faded from the spotlight.

Why it matters

Di Felice's work at Courrèges is a case study in how a dormant heritage name can be revived through a tight edit of archive codes, a clear product hierarchy and consistent storytelling. His departure in 2026 came as the luxury market became slower and more competitive, which makes his tenure a useful reference for brands weighing creative continuity against change. As one of several designers trained in Ghesquière's studios, he also illustrates how influential creative teams shape the next generation of Paris leadership.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nicolas Di Felice?

Nicolas Di Felice is a Belgian fashion designer who was artistic director of Courrèges from 2020 to 2026. Before that he worked with Nicolas Ghesquière at Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton and briefly at Dior.

Is Nicolas Di Felice still at Courrèges?

No. Courrèges announced on 24 March 2026 that he was stepping down after five years as artistic director, and named his successor shortly afterwards. Reports have linked him to Alaïa, but no new role had been confirmed at the time of writing.

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