Hedi Slimane exits Saint Laurent

It’s official – and it’s not an April fool. In conjunction with the expiry date of his four year contract at Saint Laurent, Hedi Slimane leaves his role as creative director at the French House.

“I am very grateful to Hedi Slimane, and the whole Yves Saint Laurent team, for having set the path that the house has successfully embraced, and which will grant longevity to this legendary brand” stated François-Henri Pinault, Kering’s chairman and CEO.

Even if Slimane’s years at Saint Laurent have been punctuated by heavy criticism regarding the monothematic character of his collections, thanks to the designer the brand has experienced a strong increase of its profits. Slimane’s rock'n'roll imagery has ratified the debut of a new era, which turned Saint Laurent into a global lifestyle brand – beyond fashion and its seasonal trends. 

His successor seems to have already been identified in 33-year-old Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello, currently at the reins of Versus (Versace second line) and of his namesake brand. 

The style of the two designers couldn’t be more different: grunge and androgynous the first – sexy and ultra-feminine the second.

Are we really ready to say goodbye to leather jackets and biker boots?