The Living Archive of Fashion History & Design Timelines

Versace announced Pieter Mulier as Chief Creative Officer on 5 February 2026, with the appointment effective on 1 July 2026.

July 1, 2026

Julien Dossena led Rabanne from 2013 to 2026, reviving the house’s metallic futurism through sharp contemporary ready-to-wear, commercial discipline and a less museum-bound reading of Paco Rabanne’s archive.

June 24, 2026

Moschino appointed Sunnei founders Loris Messina and Simone Rizzo as creative directors in June 2026, following Adrian Appiolaza’s exit. Their arrival brings the duo’s showmanship and brand-system instinct into a house whose humour has recently become both asset and burden.

June 20, 2026

Moschino announced Adrian Appiolaza’s exit in June 2026 after roughly two and a half years at the creative helm. The departure was confirmed by the company in a statement from Aeffe executive chairman Massimo Ferretti, while Appiolaza thanked the group and the creative team for what he described as an intense experience. His exit arrived amid a broader restructuring phase at Aeffe, with a successor still unannounced at the time of reporting.

June 19, 2026

Isaac Mizrahi was named Target’s first creative director at large in June 2026, returning to the retailer more than fifteen years after his influential Isaac Mizrahi for Target line ended. The newly created role positions him as an adviser across Target’s internal design operation, with a brief spanning mentorship, product innovation, storytelling, partnerships and the broader restoration of Target’s design authority.

June 15, 2026

Carven appointed Kai Nesselrath as design director in June 2026, succeeding Mark Thomas after his April departure. Nesselrath joined from Saint Laurent, where he spent almost a decade and rose to head designer of womenswear, with earlier experience at Chanel. His first runway collection for the house is scheduled for Spring/Summer 2027 at Paris Fashion Week in October.

June 8, 2026

Henry Zankov was named artistic director of Diane von Furstenberg in May 2026, taking on a newly defined role responsible for the brand’s collections and visual identity. The appointment followed his 2025 DVF capsule and earlier work at the house during Jonathan Saunders’s creative-director tenure, turning a returning alumnus into the visible creative hinge of the brand’s in-house reset under CEO Graziano di Boni.

May 27, 2026

Givenchy appointed Marco De Vincenzo as head of leather goods design, adding the former Etro creative director and longtime Fendi leather-goods specialist to Sarah Burton’s still-forming creative structure.

May 26, 2026

Canali has appointed former Prada and Brunello Cucinelli menswear designer Alessio Lillocci as creative director, with his first collection set to debut for Spring 2027.

May 8, 2026

A.P.C. has appointed Ludivine Poiblanc as artistic director, drawing from her career as a stylist and creative director for titles including The Wall Street Journal Magazine and from advisory work on product and visual identity. She takes over after Jean and Judith Touitou’s long founder-led creative structure; Judith Touitou had been A.P.C.’s artistic director for nearly 30 years, while Jean Touitou founded the Paris label in 1987.

May 6, 2026

Carven said Mark Thomas will leave the house at the end of April 2026 to pursue other opportunities. Thomas joined Carven in 2023 and was promoted to design director in March 2025 following Louise Trotter’s exit. The house added that its next steps would be announced later in 2026, and that its next show is planned for SS27.

April 2, 2026

Courrèges has appointed Drew Henry as artistic director, with the former Burberry senior design director set to join in May 2026 and debut for the house in September during Paris Fashion Week.

March 30, 2026

Mulberry has appointed Christopher Kane as creative director, with the Scottish designer set to relaunch the brand’s women’s ready-to-wear and debut in September 2026 during London Fashion Week.

March 26, 2026

Oakley has appointed Matthew M. Williams as creative director of apparel, footwear and accessories, signalling broader ambitions across performance and lifestyle.

March 26, 2026

Courrèges has parted ways with Nicolas Di Felice after five years, ending a tenure that gave the house a clear, contemporary edge while marking the next transition for both brand and designer.

March 24, 2026

Zara announced a two-year creative partnership with John Galliano to “re-author” Zara’s archive. The first collection is scheduled to arrive in September 2026.

March 17, 2026

Etro has no named creative director after Marco De Vincenzo’s mutually agreed exit, tied to a new strategic phase for the brand.

March 12, 2026

Nina Ricci has no named creative director after Harris Reed departed for his own label, Harris Reed.

March 11, 2026

Jay Wilson was appointed Creative Director of Jitrois on 25 February 2026.

February 25, 2026

Tristan Van Bruwaene was appointed Creative Director of Jitrois on 25 February 2026.

February 25, 2026

Zadig & Voltaire appointed Dan Sablon as creative director. Joined from Vogue France. Replaced Cecilia Bönström.

February 24, 2026

Bally has no named creative director after Simone Bellotti departed for Jil Sander.

February 21, 2026

Noah appointed Brendon Babenzien as creative director, returning to the brand from J.Crew.

February 17, 2026

J.Crew has no named creative director after Brendon Babenzien departed for his own label, Noah.

February 16, 2026

Alaïa has no named creative director after Pieter Mulier departed for Versace.

January 30, 2026

Records Stefano Gabbana's resignation as chair, effective 1 January 2026, with CEO Alfonso Dolce taking over as chair while Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana remained in charge of creative direction.

January 1, 2026

Bruno Sialelli was reported to have joined Balenciaga’s couture studio in 2026, though his formal title and start date were not disclosed. The move brings the former Lanvin creative director back into the orbit of a major Paris house at a charged moment for Balenciaga, with Pierpaolo Piccioli preparing his first couture collection for the maison.

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GU appointed Francesco Risso as creative director. Joined from Marni. The role was newly created.

2026

3.1 Phillip Lim appointed Michelle Rhee as creative director. Joined from JW Anderson. Replaced Phillip Lim.

2026