Anthony Vaccarello is bidding adieu to his golden years at Saint Laurent.
The French fashion house officially confirmed Vaccarello's exit Friday, Oct. 9, after 10 years as creative director of the iconic brand.
In his tenure at Saint Laurent, the creative director was known for his work with famed brand ambassadors like Zoë Kravitz, Rosé and Dua Lipa
, as well as longtime muses and campaign stars like Zoe Saldaña and Hailey Bieber.He was the genius behind some of the most talked-about red-carpet looks in recent years, from Rihanna's voluminous drop-waist ball gown that she donned while pregnant to the 2025 "Smurfs" premiere to Bieber's simple but statement-making blazer dress at the 2025 Met Gala. Not to mention the coveted ruffled nylon gowns
from the brand's spring 2026 show that became one of the most popular editorial stylesof last year.
Cedric Charbit, president and CEO of Saint Laurent, said in a statement about the news: "I would like to warmly thank Anthony for his 10 years of dedication to the house. During his tenure, Anthony took Saint Laurent on a remarkable trajectory, elevating the house to the forefront of desirability and image, while accomplishing exceptional work both creatively and through his cultural impact."
On his own Instagram, Vaccarello, who began at Saint Laurent in April 2016 just days after Hedi Slimane's four-year tenure, shared a compilation video of whimsical moments with the brand.
Simply captioning the reel, "À bientôt," it begins with the Belgian designer singing off on a handwritten note with "Love A," before delving into flashbacks from star-studded campaigns and memorable moments. The video ends with footage from his final show at Paris Fashion Week on Sept. 29, which was at the time rumored to be Vaccarello's last, given its golden grandeur.
The exquisitely decadent show took place against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower – a classic Saint Laurent venue amid Vaccarello's tenure – with a golden runway framed by giant suspended candlelit chandeliers. Models then graced the runway in gilded ensembles.
Showing 49 looks in total, the creative director closed out the golden show with 10 black ensembles, aiming to represent a lights-out on his era and a fade to black. But that wasn't all: For the show's grand finale, Charlotte Gainsbourg appeared on the runway for a special surprise performance. After the models' final walk, Vaccarello came out and took what we know now to be his final bow.
And it wouldn't have been a Saint Laurent show without the A-list guests and longtime brand ambassadors. Vaccarello's final front row included stars like Bieber, Rami Malek, Post Malone, Amelia Gray, Belmont Cameli, Donatella Versace and Saldaña.
In 2023, Vaccarello drove the launch of Saint Laurent Productions, which was behind films like "Emilia Pérez" and Paolo Sorrentino's "Parthenope." During his tenure, the creative director worked closely with Saldaña, a longtime Saint Laurent muse, and when she took home the Oscar for best supporting actress in 2025 for her role in "Emilia," she wore none other than a custom gown from the French fashion house.
More recently, Vaccarello jumped on the "Heated Rivalry" fandom, bringing Connor Storrie on board as a global ambassador for the brand. In August, Saint Laurent dropped videos of its 2026 fall campaign featuring Storrie with a Patrick Swayze-inspired swag, bobbing his head to Milli Vanilli's "I'm Gonna Miss You" while showcasing his sleek Saint Laurent shades and '80s-coded popped-collar leather jacket.
So where will Vaccarello go next – and who will step into the coveted role and follow in his golden footsteps? The brand is said to announce its new leadership soon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Vaccarello confirms exit from Saint Laurent after 10 years
