The major shake-up in fashion designers that began in late 2024 is coming to an end: On Monday, May 19, Balenciaga announced the appointment of Pierpaolo Piccioli as its new creative director. The 57-year-old Italian has been unemployed since leaving Valentino in March 2024, and since then, his name has been repeatedly mentioned for various designer-less houses. At the end of 2024, he was even considered for Fendi, though he couldn't reach an agreement with the owner, the LVMH group.

It was in this Rome-based fashion house that he started his career before joining Valentino in 1999. Hired to handle accessories, he climbed the ranks to be appointed Valentino's creative director in 2008, initially in tandem with Maria Grazia Chiuri, then alone after her departure in 2016 for Dior. He remained in the position until March 2024, when he was replaced by his compatriot Alessandro Michele.

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