Anthony Vaccarello

In April 2016, Belgian-born designer Anthony Vaccarello took the helm at Yves Saint Laurent as creative director. The designer’s previous work for both Versus Versace and his eponymous label established Vaccarello’s reputation as a master elegance.

Born to Italian parents in Brussels, Belgium, Vaccarello began his education in law school but dropped out after a year. In 2000, he enrolled at La Cambre in Brussels to study sculpture.

In his role at Yves Saint Laurent, Vaccarello was responsible for the house’s womenswear and menswear lines. The designer has put his eponymous label on hold to focus on his biggest challenge yet at one of Kering’s most profitable brands. Playing on the original Laurent's style philosophy, the designer crafted his own version of the Saint Laurent woman and androgynous menswear that has seen sales rise double digits in the quarters following his appointment. Upon his arrival at the brand, Vaccarello wiped its Instagram feed not without criticism, in line with new social marketing efforts to reintroduce the brand with a new identity. Vaccarello has also drawn inspiration from popular figures such as Hailey Bieber and Zoe Kravitz, tapping them for brand campaigns.

In October 2026, Kering announced Vaccarello would step down from the helm of Saint Laurent. His dramatic September Spring/Summer 2027 runway outing, which showcased a line-up of gilded looks before fading to black, was his grand finale at the storied Parisian fashion house.