All the Designers Shuffling Between Major Brands

Sarah Burton kicked off her career at Alexander McQueen in 1997, working alongside Lee Alexander McQueen and taking the reins after his passing in 2010. She served as the house's creative director for over a decade following McQueen's tragic death before stepping down in September 2023. She is now set to embark on a new chapter as the creative director of Givenchy, where she was appointed in September 2024. (McQueen also helmed Givenchy, from 1996 to 2001.) Burton is set to present her first collection for the house during Paris Fashion Week in March 2025. 

All eyes are on Matthieu Blazy, who was appointed as Chanel's creative director in December 2024. The highly-anticipated position at the leading fashion label was left open for about six months before it crowned its successor to Virginie Viard. Blazy formerly served as Bottega Veneta's creative director, where he joined in 2021 and cemented his reputation and career in luxury fashion. His career spans working as creative director of Maison Margiela’s Artisanal collection, serving as senior designer alongside Phoebe Philo at Celine, and being a menswear designer for Raf Simons.

Bottega Veneta named Louise Trotter as its new creative director in December 2024, immediately following Mattieu Blazy's departure and appointment at Chanel. She is set to start working at the house late January 2025. Trotter most recently served as the creative director of Carven, where she spent nearly two years revitalizing the French brand. Previously, she held creative director roles at British labels Lacoste and Joseph. At Bottega Veneta, she will make history as the only female creative director within Kering, the luxury conglomerate behind leading labels like Saint Laurent and Balenciaga.

Julian Klausner was appointed as the new creative director of Dries Van Noten in December 2024, marking a fresh chapter for the brand nearly six months after Van Noten's final runway show and nine months after his retirement announcement. As a longtime member of the Dries Van Noten team, Klausner brings a wealth of internal knowledge and outside experience from previous roles at Thom Browne, Kenzo, and Maison Margiela. He will present his first women's collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2025.

Filippo Grazioli started his career at Maison Margiela working on womenswear, and then worked his way to Givenchy, working under Riccardo Tisci as the head designer of women's ready-to-wear. His work took him to Burberry after that, leading collections and continuing to work closely with Tisci until March 2022, when he was appointed the creative director of Missoni. By October 2024, he announced his departure from the house. His last Missoni collection was Spring/Summer 2025. Grazioli has yet to announce his next move as of January 2025.

John Galliano's rise to fame began in 1995 when he was appointed the head designer at Givenchy. In 1996, Galliano made his monumental move to Christian Dior, where he served as the creative director for 15 years and conceived some of fashion's canonical runway shows and collections. The designer's time at Dior ended in 2011 after he was recorded making antisemitism and other concerning remarks at a Paris café.

The designer, who faced addiction and substance abuse issues, had a career had a revival in 2013 when he collaborated with Oscar de la Renta for a short-term stint, helping design the Fall/Winter 2013 collection. Soon after in 2014, Galliano was appointed the creative director of Maison Margiela where he experienced a sort of rebirth. He left the fashion house in December 2024, coincidentally, on his fourteenth sober birthday.

Alessandro Michele's fashion legacy has been nothing less than explosive. The Italian designer worked under Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi at Fendi early on in his career, designing accessories. Tom Ford then hired him to design bags for Gucci in 2002. He was promoted throughout the years, expanding in his roles and eventually becoming the house's creative director in 2015. He reimagined its aesthetic with punchy motifs and philosophical themes. He stepped down in November 2022 and, in March 2024, he joined Valentino as creative director.

Hedi Slimane is currently a free agent in fashion. From 2000 to 2007, the designer was the creative director for Dior Homme. From 2012 to 2016, he served as the creative director for Yves Saint Laurent. From February 2018 to his surprise departure in October 2024, Slimane was Celine's creative, artistic, and image director. This is where the French creative really made a mark. As of January 2025, Slimane has yet to announce his next plans, whether launching his own brands or leading creative at another luxury house. His is a name to watch as he navigates new opportunities.

The October 2024 appointment of Celine's new creative director shifted attention to designer Michael Rider. The Brown University-educated designer formerly designed at Ralph Lauren and Balenciaga. But most notably, he worked as Celine's ready-to-wear design director under the direction of then-Creative Director Phoebe Philo. This new appointment marks a full circle moment, and it has stirred excitement about the label's new direction. 

Haider Ackermann’s early career took shape in 1998 when he began working at Dior as an intern. However, Ackermann’s breakthrough came with the launch of his eponymous label in 2003, which quickly gained critical acclaim for its elegant, draped silhouettes and expert use of leather and silk.

In 2016, Ackermann was appointed the creative director of Berluti, marking his first major leadership role at a luxury menswear brand. However, in 2018, after only three seasons, Ackermann parted ways with Berluti. In recent years, Ackermann has embraced a new chapter of collaborations. He was appointed the creative director for Canada Goose in May 2024. Mere months later in September, breakout news came: Ackermann is helming creative at Tom Ford, following Peter Hawkings.