One of the crucial truths about fashion is that its constantly moving forward.
The writing is on the wallwere entering a fashion vibe shift.
But this latest round of appointments consists almost completely of designers emerging from behind-the-scenes positions.
Some of the protagonists of fashion’s current vibe shift: a new McQueen by Seán McGirr, Valentino’s newly-named creative director Alessandro Michele, Chemena Kamali’s boho renaissance at Chloé.
(Williams, the world-famous multihyphenate celebrity designer, is the exception.)
Both designers were relative unknowns at the time.
Alessandro Michele famously put together his debut menswear collection for the Gucci fall 2015 season in five days.
Seán McGirr was the first outsider designer chosen as creative director of Alexander McQueen after Sarah Burton’s departure late last year.
Make it strong and powerfula kind of contemporary minimalism.
But this shift is not always dependent on an unknown designer ascending to a creative position of power.
Recall in 2010 when Phoebe Philo presentedher first proper Celine collection.
Fashion designer Chemena Kamali at the Chloé fall 2024 show
Together with the realization that the commercial bedrocks that support the industry (i.e.
Dries Van Noten surprised the fashion world when he announced he would be retiring by the end of this year.
Alessandro Michele famously put together his debut menswear collection for the Gucci fall 2015 season in five days.
A look from Demna’s first collection for Balenciaga, fall 2016
Phoebe Philosaidof her vibe-shifting vision for Céline’s spring 2010 collection: “I just thought I’d clean it up. Make it strong and powerful—a kind of contemporary minimalism.”
