New seats, familiar names. We've mapped out who's sitting where, from Dior and Chanel to Missoni and Proenza Schouler.&nbsp;

If you&rsquo;re a self-proclaimed fashion enthusiast, chances are you&rsquo;ve suffered whiplash from the wave of major designer changes across the luxury space. Over the past year, there&rsquo;s been announcement after announcement. &ldquo;Pierpaolo Piccioli exits <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/valentino-a-grand-italian-epic-book">Valentino</a>." "John Galliano departs from <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/maison-margiela-gentle-monster-third-collaboration-shop">Maison Margiela</a>.&rdquo; Our news feeds were flooded with those. Some stung more than others&mdash;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/donatella-versace-miami-restaurant-hotel">Donatella Versace</a> stepping down as creative director after 28 years, for one, comes to mind.
The fall of 2024 was particularly tough to keep up with. It felt like there was a new appointment every week. There were the creatives with brief yet exciting stints that some wished had lasted longer. There were also designers with long tenures, such as <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/kylian-mbappe-dior-mens-jonathan-anderson-debut-collection">Jonathan Anderson</a> at Loewe, who walked away from their longstanding posts.&nbsp;
What made it even harder to follow? Many of these names didn&rsquo;t disappear into oblivion (not that we wanted them to, anyhow). They swapped seats&mdash;hence why the fashion world refers to it as the game of musical chairs. And the music hasn&rsquo;t stopped yet. Some brands are still searching for their next leaders, while others are rumored to be quietly preparing to announce yet another departure.
You&rsquo;ve probably found yourself asking: who&rsquo;s where now?&nbsp;
Keep scrolling to see where top designers are now serving as creative directors&mdash;from Matthieu Blazy at <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-cruise-2025-2026-lake-como-italy">Chanel</a> to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/glenn-martens-maison-margiela-creative-director-diesel">Glenn Martens</a> at Maison Margiela. The bonus? The swaps are listed one after the other, so you can easily track who replaced whom.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Fendi?</h2>

Getty Images.

For four years, British-American designer Kim Jones was at the helm of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fendi-fall-winter-2025-100th-anniversary-fashion-show-watch">Fendi</a>, in addition to his post at Dior Homme. In September 2020, he succeeded Karl Lagerfeld and oversaw the fashion house&rsquo;s ready-to-wear, haute couture, and fur collections. But exactly four years after taking over Fendi, he presented his last collection in September 2024 during Milan Fashion Week, with the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fendi-spring-summer-2025-collection-milan-fashion-week">Spring/Summer 2025 line</a>. A few weeks later, Jones and LVMH announced in a joint statement that the designer would step down.&nbsp;
What&rsquo;s next for Kim Jones, you ask? <a href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/kim-joness-latest-move-a-collab-with-aman#:~:text=Kim%20Jones%20is%20a%20true,group's%20product%20brand%2C%20Aman%20Essentials.">Vogue Business reported last week</a> that he&rsquo;s set to collaborate with the Aman group of resorts and hotels for its own line of fashion and beauty essentials. Meanwhile, Silvia Venturini Fendi staged a 100th anniversary show that recieved critical acclaim, and some insiders think Maria Grazia Chiuri will return to Rome to take the reins.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Dior?</h2>

When Kim Jones stepped down as Dior&rsquo;s menswear creative director earlier this year, fashion insiders quickly began speculating about <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/maria-grazia-chiuri-best-dior-moments-runway-looks">Maria Grazia Chiuri</a>&rsquo;s possible departure from women&rsquo;s haute couture and ready-to-wear. Though Dior hadn&rsquo;t publicly confirmed a search for Chiuri&rsquo;s replacement, let alone hinted at her departure from the role she clung onto for nine years, the murmurs persisted for months. Then came the announcement in April that Loewe alum Jonathan Anderson would succeed Jones at Dior Homme. The rumors only intensified. Anderson immediately emerged among the most talked-about potential womenswear successor. Finally, in May, Dior officially announced <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/maria-grazia-chiuri-exits-dior">MGC&rsquo;s exit</a>. Just days later, the house confirmed what most of the industry had already assumed: <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/jonathan-anderson-creative-director-dior-womens-mens-couture-debut-collection">Jonathan Anderson would take over Dior</a>&mdash;becoming the first designer to oversee menswear, womenswear, and haute couture since Christian Dior himself.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve since&nbsp;received an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/dior-jonathan-anderson-mens-spring-summer-2026-fashion-show-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early look at Anderson&rsquo;s creative vision for the maison</a>, which debuted during Men&rsquo;s Paris Fashion Week. The collection itself rebelled against the dramatic silhouettes typically associated with Dior. Instead, Anderson favored refined, casual tailoring with an offhand elegance. Still, his complete vision has yet to unfold. Anderson&rsquo;s highly anticipated womenswear collection will debut at Paris Fashion Week in October. One thing&rsquo;s certain: it&rsquo;s Jonathan Anderson&rsquo;s Dior world now, and we&rsquo;re all just living in it.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Loewe?</h2>

With Jonathan Anderson stepping down from <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/best-re-edition-loewe-puzzle-bags-2025-collectors-items">Loewe</a> after 11 years, it didn&rsquo;t take long for the Spanish fashion house to name his successor. Just a week after the news broke in March, Loewe announced that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/loewe-creative-directors-jack-mccollough-lazaro-hernandez">design duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez would take the helm</a>. The pair, best known for their work at Proenza Schouler, will debut their first collection during Paris Fashion Week this October.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Proenza Schouler?</h2>

When <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/devon-lee-carlson-runway-debut-proenza-schouler-spring-summer-2025-nyfw">Proenza Schouler</a> co-founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez announced their departure in January, it marked the end of an era. But with their new roles at Loewe, it quickly became clear they weren&rsquo;t stepping away from fashion anytime soon. As of late, the team at Proenza Schouler has yet to announce who will be taking over the design duo. That said, the label is likely sitting out the Spring/Summer 2026 season.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Carven?</h2>

Mark Howard Thomas. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

The major fashion houses aren&rsquo;t the only ones experiencing seismic shifts. After just two years, Louise Trotter exited Carven in December. However, brief tenures are nothing new for the French label. Before Trotter, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/designer-serge-ruffieux-accessory-collection-dior-carven">Serge Ruffieux</a> held the role for only three seasons. Then there were co-creative directors Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud, who joined the brand in 2015 and departed a little over a year later, presenting just four collections.&nbsp;
Three months after Trotter&rsquo;s departure, Carven finally announced her successor: Mark Howard Thomas, formerly of Lacoste and Helmut Lang. He&rsquo;s set to stage his first collection for the Spring/Summer 2026 season this fall. Here&rsquo;s hoping he breaks the label&rsquo;s revolving-door streak.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Bottega Veneta?</h2>

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bottega-veneta-spring-summer-2025-fashion-show-womens-mens-photos-videos">Matthieu Blazy&rsquo;s</a> tenure at Bottega Veneta was relatively brief, taking the reins of the Italian fashion house for just three years. Still, the French-Belgian designer&rsquo;s stint is one that left a lasting mark on the brand&rsquo;s history. In <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bottega-veneta-fall-winter-20220-collection-matthieu-blazy-mfw">his debut Fall/Winter 2022 collection</a>, Blazy introduced the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/bottega-veneta-fall-winter-2023-collection-runway-looks-photos">Sardine bag</a>&mdash;woven in Bottega&rsquo;s signature intrecciato pattern, which featured a hard-to-miss gold handle. It quickly became a celebrity favorite and certified It bag, arguably even more so than the iconic Jodie. And then, of course, there were the trompe-l&rsquo;oeil pieces: knit, denim, and cotton looks that were, in fact, made of leather.&nbsp;
Naturally, his departure came as a surprise&mdash;and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bottega-veneta-creative-director-louise-trotter-2024">his successor, Louise Trotter</a>, has big shoes to fill. However, as the first woman to lead Bottega Veneta creatively, her appointment marks a new chapter. The Carven alum is set to debut her first collection for the brand at Milan Fashion Week this September, and all eyes are on what the house will look like under her direction.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Chanel?</h2>

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/karl-lagerfeld-a-fashion-history-book-biography">Karl Lagerfeld&rsquo;s</a> passing in 2019 sent shockwaves through the fashion world&mdash;an impact not felt since the losses of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gianni-versace-fashion-signatures-designer-history-medusa-bondage">Gianni Versace</a> in 1997 and Alexander McQueen&rsquo;s in 2010. After all, he had led the iconic maison for 36 years.&nbsp;
No matter who stepped into his role, it was clear <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-cruise-2025-2026-lake-como-italy">Chanel</a> would never quite be the same. Lagerfeld&rsquo;s successor, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/virginie-viard-steps-down-at-chanel">Virginie Viard</a>, had worked closely with him since 1987, making her a natural&mdash;albeit safe&mdash;choice.&nbsp;
But Viard&rsquo;s five-year tenure received a lukewarm response, with murmurs in the industry calling for a bolder, more invigorating vision. And who&rsquo;s expected to bring that energy back? None other than Bottega Veneta alum <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/chanel-new-creative-director-matthieu-blazy-details">Matthieu Blazy</a>. Before Bottega, Blazy had worked with Phoebe Philo at Celine and Raf Simons at Calvin Klein. The 41-year-old designer is set to debut his first runway show for Chanel during Paris Fashion Week in October.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Helmut Lang?</h2>

Peter Do. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Then came the particularly shocking exit: after less than two years with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/helmut-lang-fall-winter-2024-runway-images-nyfw">Helmut Lang</a>, Peter Do stepped down as creative director in November.&nbsp;
When Do presented his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/helmut-lang-spring-summer-2024-nyfw-runway-images">debut collection for Helmut Lang</a> at New York Fashion Week in September 2023, one thing was clear: the once-radical label, known for its minimalist and conceptual edge, was shifting toward wearability. That wasn&rsquo;t entirely unexpected; several brands had been leaning into more practical designs that season. Still, longtime Helmut Lang loyalists hoped for more overt nods to the archives. While the collection was generally well-received, it left some wanting more provocative perspectives.
So why the short stint? Reactions to Do&rsquo;s exit were mixed, but one recurring theme stood out: a creative disconnect while reviving a legacy New York label at a time when much of the industry&rsquo;s energy is shifting toward Europe. Perhaps, in the end, it simply wasn&rsquo;t the right fit. For now, Do will focus on his eponymous label, which was launched in 2018.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Maison Margiela?</h2>

To say <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/shopping/maison-margiela-gentle-monster-third-collaboration-shop">Maison Margiela</a> thrived during <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/john-galliano-leaves-maison-margiela-exit-sober-2024">John Galliano&rsquo;s tenure</a> would be an understatement. The award-winning designer&mdash;previously at the helm of Givenchy and Dior&mdash;served as creative director at the maison for a decade. His time ushered in both praise and commercial success. But it wasn&rsquo;t just his avant-garde silhouettes, gender-fluid tailoring, and grandeur craftsmanship that solidified his impact. It was also his immersive, dramatic runway shows that turned fashion into a theatrical performance&mdash;something few brands conceived of, let alone dared to do, before his arrival at Margiela. From eerie lighting to masked models reminiscent of porcelain dolls, Galliano reimagined what a runway could be.&nbsp;
In December, Galliano announced his departure via Instagram, much to the fashion world&rsquo;s surprise. Speculations swirled. Was he headed to Fendi? Would he replace Virginie Viard at Chanel? Or perhaps return to Dior? But as we now know, the latter two maisons have since appointed new creative directors. Fendi, however, remains an open question.&nbsp;
Maison Margiela announced in January that <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/glenn-martens-maison-margiela-creative-director-diesel">Glenn Martens</a> of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/diesel-fall-winter-2025-milan-fashion-week">Diesel</a> would take over the creative reins. Martens will concurrently serve both roles, with his Margiela debut slated for the Artisanal collection this fall.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Gucci?</h2>

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gucci-fashion-show-womens-spring-summer-2025-collection-photo-look-jin-bts">Sabato De Sarno&rsquo;s</a> stint at Gucci was even shorter than Matthieu Blazy&rsquo;s at Bottega Veneta. The Italian fashion designer held the creative director position for under two years, stepping in after <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/alessandro-michele-facts-valentino-gucci">Alessandro Michele</a>&mdash;who had been with Gucci for 20 years, including seven as creative director&mdash;left the luxury fashion house.&nbsp;
Still, like Blazy&rsquo;s Bottega exit, De Sarno&rsquo;s departure left a mark. His debut collection, &ldquo;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/gucci-spring-summer-2024-milan-fashion-week">Ancora</a>,&rdquo; shown in September 2023 for Spring/Summer 2024, was widely praised. It revived Gucci classics like the Jackie bag and introduced a platform version of the iconic horsebit loafer&mdash;all cast in a deep, cherry red that brought a seductive, sultry edge to the brand&rsquo;s identity. Under his direction, Gucci embraced a more classic, minimalist aesthetic. It was a stark contrast to Michele&rsquo;s eclectic, maximalist vision.&nbsp;
But despite a generally positive reception, revenue reportedly dropped during De Sarno&rsquo;s tenure, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/kerings-gucci-brand-ends-collaboration-with-designer-sabato-de-sarno-2025-02-06/#:~:text=Gucci%20revenues%20dropped%2025%25%20in,who%20was%20appointed%20last%20year.">Reuters reported</a>&mdash;a likely factor in the brand&rsquo;s swift change in leadership. Nonetheless, the fashion world is buzzing for Gucci&rsquo;s new chapter under <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/demna-gucci-creative-director">Demna</a>, formerly at other industry-defining brands like Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton. Demna&rsquo;s first Gucci show will be in September, presenting the Spring/Summer 2026 line. It&rsquo;s not a big question mark, though; if Demna&rsquo;s track record is any indication, we can expect sharp shoulders, oversized silhouettes, and subversive playfulness.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Valentino?</h2>

Alessandro Michele. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Pierpaolo Piccioli&rsquo;s departure from Valentino was bittersweet. After all, he had spent 25 years of his career at the Italian fashion house.&nbsp;
But if you were a fan of Gucci under Alessandro Michele, chances are you&rsquo;ve been thrilled by his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/valentino-haute-couture-spring-summer-2025-alessandro-michele">work thus far at Valentino</a>. After a two-year hiatus from the fashion spotlight, his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/valentino-cruise-2025-collection-alessandro-michele-debut">Cruise 2025 debut</a> marked the comeback we desperately yearned for&mdash;at Valentino, no less. Then came his Spring/Summer 2025 collection. It was Roman elegance to its core: playful prints, regal fabrics, and ruffled details. Oh, Alessandro, how we have missed you. May you never ghost fashion again.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Balenciaga?</h2>

But don&rsquo;t think we&rsquo;ve seen the last of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/pierpaolo-piccioli-balenciaga-creative-director">Pierpaolo Piccioli</a>. At Balenciaga, Demna is out, Pierpaolo Piccioli is in. Two months after announcing Demna&rsquo;s departure, Kering finally confirmed in May that the Valentino alum would be taking the reins at the Spanish fashion house. Piccioli will debut his first Balenciaga collection at Paris Fashion Week this fall.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Versace?</h2>

Photography by Stef Mitchell, courtesy of Versace.

Meanwhile, at Versace, it felt like the end of an era when <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/donatella-versace-best-celebrity-runway-moments">Donatella Versace</a> announced she would be stepping down from her role as Chief Creative Officer. She had led the brand for nearly three decades, taking over after the untimely passing of her brother, Gianni Versace, in 1997. But it&rsquo;s not the end of Versace as we know it&mdash;Donatella is simply shifting roles, now serving as Chief Brand Ambassador.&nbsp;
So who&rsquo;s taking over the creative reins? The house didn&rsquo;t take long to announce Donatella&rsquo;s successor: <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/versace-dario-vitale-new-creative-director-donatella">Dario Vitale</a>. While his name might not ring familiar just yet, Vitale brings <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/who-is-dario-vitale-versace-creative-director-fun-facts">serious pedigree</a>, having worked at established fashion houses like Bottega Veneta under Tomas Maier, Dsquared2, and Miu Miu under the legendary Miuccia Prada. As the first creative director at Versace, who does not bear the family name, Vitale will debut at Milan Fashion Week in September.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Celine?</h2>

Michael Rider. Photography courtesy of Celine.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/hedi-slimane-leaves-celine-creative-director">Hedi Slimane</a>, who had been at the helm since 2018, officially stepped down in October last year. His appointment had followed <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/phoebe-philo-exits-celine">Phoebe Philo&rsquo;s wildly influential tenure</a>, and while his vision was a dramatic departure from hers, Slimane ushered in a new era for the brand&mdash;one rooted in sleek tailoring, indie-rock aesthetics, and modern edge.&nbsp;
In his place, the brand announced <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/michael-rider-new-creative-director-of-celine-hedi-slimane">Michael Rider</a> as the new creative director. Rider, who previously was at the helm of Polo Ralph Lauren, is set to debut his first collection for Celine during Paris Couture Week in July. With a background in minimalism and craftsmanship under Phoebe Philo's Celine, many are curious to see how Rider will balance the house&rsquo;s modern identity with Celine&rsquo;s storied past.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Givenchy?</h2>

Photo via Getty Images.

After three years at Givenchy, Matthew M. Williams stepped down as creative director in January 2024 to focus on his label, 1017 ALYX 9SM. LVMH took nine months to fill the open seat, finally announcing Sarah Burton as Williams&rsquo; successor in September. She presented her first collection for the French luxury label during Paris Fashion Week in March this year. Her Givenchy debut, the Fall/Winter 2025 line, paid homage to Hubert de Givenchy&rsquo;s inaugural 1952 collection.&nbsp;
To say it was well-received would be an understatement. Burton celebrated modern femininity through sharply tailored suits, cinched waists, and gracefully sculptural draping&mdash;honoring the house&rsquo;s heritage while ushering in a new chapter.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of McQueen?</h2>

Seán McGirr. (Photo courtesy of Alexander McQueen/Robin Galiegue)

Much like Pierpaolo Piccioli at Valentino, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/sarah-burton-alexander-mcqueen-exit-creative-director">Sarah Burton&rsquo;s 2023 departure from Alexander McQueen</a> was also bittersweet. But it wasn&rsquo;t just because she had spent almost three decades at the British luxury fashion house. Burton joined the brand as an intern in 1996 and worked her way up from there. Eventually, after Alexander McQueen&rsquo;s passing in 2010, she was appointed creative director&mdash;a position she held for thirteen years. Burton presented her final collection during the Spring/Summer 2024 season at Paris Fashion Week.
Kering announced her successor, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/who-is-sean-mcgirr-alexander-mcqueen-new-creative-director-sarah-burton">S&eacute;an McGirr</a>, just a month later. He debuted his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/alexander-mcqueen-fall-winter-2024">first collection for the house</a> the following year, during the Fall/Winter 2024 season. While the response to his collections thus far has been somewhat mixed, McGirr earned praise for select looks&mdash;most notably <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/met-gala-2024-red-carpet-celebrity-looks-fashion">last year&rsquo;s Met Gala</a>, where Lana Del Rey wore one of the event&rsquo;s most talked-about ensembles. It was a dramatic reinterpretation of an archival Fall 2006 McQueen design. It was a hauntingly elegant nod perfectly on-theme for &ldquo;Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.&rdquo;&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Mugler?</h2>

Miguel Castro Freitas. Photography courtesy of Mugler.

Maison Margiela had John Galliano. Mugler had <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/mugler-pfw-spring-summer-2025">Casey Cadwallader</a>.&nbsp;
Cadwallader joined Mugler in late 2017, debuting his first collection for the French luxury fashion house in May 2018. During his seven-year tenure, he reignited excitement around the brand by reimagining its iconic, body-conscious aesthetic, infusing it with a futuristic edge through bold architectural silhouettes, moody color palettes, and a more inclusive approach that reflected different body types. It was edgy. It was avant-garde. It was unmistakably Mugler. It&rsquo;s no surprise, then, that under his creative direction, the brand saw double- and triple-digit sales growth beginning in 2020, according to <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/mugler-casey-cadwallader-on-return-to-paris-fashion-week-and-launching-menswear-1235833773/">WWD</a>.
But in March, Mugler confirmed that Cadwallader would be stepping down from his role. He presented his last collection for the label in September. So, who's next at the helm? Portuguese designer <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/mugler-creative-director-miguel-castro-freitas">Miguel Castro Freitas</a>, whose r&eacute;sum&eacute; includes Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten, and Dior. His debut show for Mugler is slated for September during the Spring/Summer 2026 season&mdash;a moment that will also mark major debuts from other newly appointed directors like Matthieu Blazy, Demna, Louise Trotter, and Mark Howard Thomas.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Tom Ford?</h2>

Haider Ackermann. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Then there was the shortest creative director stint of them all. When <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/travel-living/tom-ford-mansions-portfolio-london-home">Tom Ford</a> stepped down from his namesake brand in April 2023, many in the industry worried about what would come next for the label, known for its unapologetic glamour and provocative allure. But those concerns were short-lived. The brand quickly announced Peter Hawkings as Ford&rsquo;s successor&mdash;a designer who had worked closely with him for nearly 25 years, including Ford&rsquo;s influential tenure at Gucci. For loyalists, it was a reassuring choice: Hawkings was more than a longtime collaborator. He was Tom Ford&rsquo;s right-hand man, his prot&eacute;g&eacute;.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Which made it all the more surprising when <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/peter-hawkings-out-tom-ford">Hawkings&rsquo; time at the helm ended so quickly</a>. With Est&eacute;e Lauder&rsquo;s recent acquisition of the Tom Ford brand, perhaps the internal restructuring or a misalignment in creative direction played a role.&nbsp;
In September 2024, French designer Haider Ackermann was appointed creative director of Tom Ford. Having worked with John Galliano during his Dior years and previously held posts at Berluti and Jean Paul Gaultier, Ackermann had long been admired in the industry. Karl Lagerfeld even once said he would be his ideal successor at Chanel back in 2010. Ackermann debuted <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/tom-ford-fall-winter-2025-haider-ackermann-watch">his first collection for Tom Ford</a> at Paris Fashion Week in March, unveiling the Fall/Winter 2025 line: a sensual, elevated take on Tom Ford&rsquo;s signature brand of seductive luxury.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Missoni?</h2>

Alberto Caliri. Getty Images.

When Angela Missoni stepped down from her parents&rsquo; label in 2021, Alberto Caliri became <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/missoni-mens-spring-2019">Missoni&rsquo;s</a> first creative director without the family name. But the move felt natural. Caliri was a brand veteran, having been with the house since 1998. Still, his initial tenure was meant to be temporary; he oversaw the Spring/Summer 2022 collection before Filippo Grazioli officially took over.&nbsp;
But just after two years, Grazioli stepped down due to creative differences, and the Italian house reinstated Caliri as creative director. Much to Missoni&rsquo;s relief, his return upheld the brand&rsquo;s signature zigzag legacy, which he embraced fully in his first collection back, shown during the Fall/Winter 2025 season.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of 3.1 Phillip Lim?</h2>

After leading his eponymous brand, 3.1 Phillip Lim, for almost 20 years, Phillip Lim announced in November that he would be stepping down as creative director. He debuted his final collection during New York Fashion Week in September, presenting the Spring/Summer 2025 line. As of now, the brand has yet to name a successor.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Who Is the Creative Director of Dries Van Noten?</h2>

Julian Klausner, the new creative director of Dries Van Noten. Photography: Courtesy of Dries Van Noten.

Shortly after announcing his retirement, Dries Van Noten announced the successor for his eponymous label: Julian Klausner. Klausner, who will oversee both womenswear and menswear, had been working directly with Van Noten since 2018. Just last week, Klausner made headlines for his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/men/dries-van-noten-mens-spring-summer-2026">menswear debut at Paris Fashion Week</a>, where he presented the Spring/Summer 2026 collection. We still saw some of the founder&rsquo;s signature design elements: bold colors and avant-garde prints that very few can pull off. That wasn&rsquo;t much of a surprise, though, since his <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/dries-van-noten-fall-winter-2025-julian-klausner-debut">womenswear debut</a> in March also honored the label&rsquo;s founder. Either way, Klausner&rsquo;s making it clear that the Dries Van Noten brand we knew and loved is here to stay, but with a new and improved take on drama.&nbsp;

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