Clare Waight Keller replaces Hannah MacGibbon Chloe: After months of speculation over an impending dismissal, it was just confirmed this week that, effective June 1, Keller (right) would be replacing MacGibbon in the role of Chloe creative director. MacGibbon, who worked for the label for eight years before being named its creative director in 2008 is said to be leaving “to pursue new projects.”
Manish Arora takes over creative reigns at Paco Rabanne: Paco Rabanne is reentering the fashion scene this year and Indian designer Manish Arora, who will continue to design his namesake label, will be helming the collection beginning with the Spring/Summer 2012 line.
Sarah Burton takes over at Alexander McQueen: After the untimely death of Alexander McQueen in early 2010, Burton, who joined the brand after graduating from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in 1997 (she interned at McQueen during her studies), was tapped to replace the late designer.
Pina Ferlisi takes over at McQ: Ferlisi, the former creative directory of Generra, took over the casual diffusion line after McQueen’s untimely death.
Olivier Rousteing replaces Christophe Decarnin at Balmain: After suffering a mental breakdown, Decarnin is replaced by Rousteing who has been Decarnin’s number two at Balmain since 2009.
John Galliano is fired from Christian Dior: Amidst multiple allegations of racial and anti-Semitic remarks, Galliano was dismissed in March 2011 and has yet to be replaced.
Vanessa Seward leaves Azzaro: After Loris Azzaro passed away in 2003, Seward took over the French label as creative director. She left in March 2011 and her replacement has yet to be named.
Cedric Charlier is fired from Cacharel: Let go in March 2011, Cacharel has yet to appoint a new creative director.
Milan Vukmirovic leaves Trussardi: A founder of Colette in Paris and The Webster in Miami, the editor-in-chief of L’Officiel Hommes, a photographer, and the former design director at Gucci Group, Vukmirovic left Trussardi in March 2011 and has yet to be replaced.
Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi are fired from Gianfranco Ferre: The design duo were let go in April 2011, reportedly due to poor sales figures. They have yet to be replaced.
Christophe Lemaire Replaces Jean Paul Gaultier at Hermes: Leaving Lacoste to helm Hermes is quite the shift, but after Gaultier left the iconic label, Lemaire was tapped to replace him and his first collection for Hermes, Fall 2011, was well received.
Felipe Oliveira Baptista replaces Christophe Lemaire at Lacoste: After Lemaire left Lacoste for Hermes, Baptista was named as his successor. His first collection will be Spring/Summer 2012. The Portugal-born designer designed for Max Mara and Cerruti before founding his own label in 2003.
Nicola Formichetti takes over Thierry Mugler: Hoping to revive interest in the French brand, Thierry Mugler changes its name to MUGLER and hires Lady Gaga’s go-to stylist in September 2010.
Mario Pinto is named Mark Shale’s artistic director : A year after filing for bankruptcy, the Michelle Obama-favored designer was named Mark Shale’s creative director in the hopes of reviving interest in the brand’s women’s collection.
Bruno Collin replaces Wilbert Das at Diesel: Amidst rumors of of irreconcilable differences with Diesel’s CEO over the future direction of the brand, Das left Diesel in late 2009 and was replaced the following year with Collin.
