Today, the world of fashion is digesting the news of Pierpaolo Piccioli becoming Balenciaga creative director – with the guessing game coming to an abrupt halt. The post has been vacant subsequent to Demna switching houses to save Gucci (following the not-so-unexptected departure of Sabato De Sarno in February). Demna will present his final Balenciaga collection in July during Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week – with Piccioli taking the reins July 10. The Italian designer joins the Spanish Paris-based fashion house after parting ways with Valentino in early 2024, having served as creative director for 25 years. The revered designer joins Balenciaga at a challenging moment for parent company Kering, who reported a 14% year-on-year decline in first quarter sales to €3.9bn.⁠

Balenciaga Appoints Pierpaolo Piccioli Creative Director

Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:

“Girl simply what? Why wouldn’t they put him at Gucci and Demna at Balenciaga? This makes no sense.” [cheapthrills]

“I am going to give him a chance, but as I was expecting, I am disappointed in this appointment. Congratulations to him anyway.” [Salvatore]

“All I’m gonna say is: LOL Kering CEOs really want to see the ship sink!” [Creative]

“Very pleasantly surprised at the negative reactions here, to be completely honest. IMO, any creative director is better than the trite Demna served up at Balenciaga. All I require from Pierpaolo Piccioli is for him to inject some glamour, elegance, and sophistication back into Balenciaga.” [vogue28]

“I personally was wishing for Pieter [Mulier] or Daniel [Rsoeberry] cause I find them more exciting fashion-wise, but this makes sense. Balenciaga desperately needed someone that would clean up the house, and bring some class back. Pierpaolo is a perfect person to do that. I can’t wait to see what he does for couture there.” [Marc10]

“The good thing is that it cannot get worse than Demna’s regurgitations.” [VogueDisciple93]

“I kinda optimistic about it!” [pryvli]

Share your own thoughts on Pierpaolo Piccioli becoming Balenciaga creative director, here.

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Major fashion news has been dropping thick and fast this week – from Dries Van Noten exiting his eponymous label as creative director to speculation swirling Michael Kors is planning his departure and already searching for a successor (rumors which have since been debunked by Capri).

Today’s shocker is Pierpaolo Piccioli is to exit Valentino. Taking to his Instagram page, the 56-year-old celebrated designer began his statement: “Not all stories have a beginning and an end, some live a kind of eternal present that shines with an intense light, so strong that it leaves no shadows.” After 25-years at the helm of the legendary Italian fashion house and as solo creative director since 2016, Piccioli’s last collection was ultimately the the all-black affair showcased during Paris Fashion Week, unveiled earlier this month.

Revisit the Valentino Fall 2024 collection below:

Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:

“Well… unexpected!” [DK92]

“I was not on the look out for this but can’t say I’m too sad by it. I thoroughly enjoyed his Valentino, his couture was one of the shows I looked forward to each season and believe he gave us some of the most modern propositions of couture/elevated dressing. The all-black collection now makes sense!” [VogueDisciple93]

“GREAT NEWS! I enjoyed his collections, but then it became all one-note, boring, and borderline tacky. [Riccardo] Tisci at Valentino could be good!” [Salvatore]

“For me this is not good news at all. PP has been a wonderful creative director, all the more so since he went solo in 2016. Valentino as we know it today is HIS Valentino. Some collections might have worked better than others and there might have been some sense of fatigue creeping in as of late, but his last RTW collections proved that he could still deliver.” [bc collector]

“What a relief! I absolutely loved his first 2-3 years at Valentino, but really since then, it’s been one cheap, one-dimensional looking mess.” [lookatme]

“Time for a break. His Valentino has gotten a bit one note even though he obviously had the skills.” [tourbillions]

“I think there was a nice story arc with his tenure at Valentino. It doesn’t feel like he overstayed his visit and he’s ready to start a new chapter.” [kikifoz]

Share your own thoughts on Pierpaolo Piccioli exiting Valentino as creative director, here.

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Staged within the decadent interiors of the historic Hôtel de Maisons, Pierpaolo Piccioli declared black is the new ‘PP Pink‘ with the unveiling of Valentino’s Fall 2024 collection, having served up an all-black lineup on day seven of Paris Fashion Week. Often renowned and celebrated for his mastery of vivid color, Piccioli took a bold departure this season by embracing an exclusively black palette for a collection aptly titled “Le Noir”. The Italian fashion designer who has been the solo creative force behind Valentino since 2016, fixated upon the romantic and ultra-feminine codes of the iconic Italian fashion house this season, focusing on rosettes, ruffles, lace and intricate embroidery detailing as opposed to color.

Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:

“Pink, blue, black. Doesn’t he get bored with the co lour shtick?” [LadyJunon]

“Funeral march. I’m ready for him to move on.” [Salvatore]

“Autopilot.” [yslforever]

“There’s something very ‘early 2010s pre-collection’ about this and honestly I’m not mad at it. Boring and unoriginal, but it at least looks pretty luxe and isn’t as aesthetically ghastly as some of Pierpaolo’s recent offerings.” [Steddycam91]

“Beautiful, but boring beyond belief. It’s clearly product-driven because it’s basically soulless.” [GoldenPetals]

“It’s good, but not great. Certainly one of his best RTW shows. Of course it’s incomparable to couture, but a major improvement. I will say that it did not have to be all black. Something about that shows uncertainty. He used the black as a security blanket. Some of these pieces would have been better in color.” [GivenchyHomme]

“For a Brand that has such a great approach to color and print combinations, I find it very depressing and I miss both elements a lot. The evening ear is beautiful though!” [Kite]

“It’s an exquisite, elegant and luxurious collection. I think that’s what Maison Valentino has always been about so for me this presentation was definitely an achievement. There’s nothing new but we can see an interesting play with shapes, lengths and fabrics. all the lace looked sumptuous! Also, I absolutely love all-black outfits and looks so this was personally, a treat.” [WAVES]

“J’adore! Beeeeaaautiful garments, great casting and everything looked expensive!” [Ihhbl]

“Those black patent 80’s pump! Heavenly! I didn’t expect much from him but it was such a nice surprise. A very beautiful collection! It was insanely glamorous, diverse and grown up. That’s what I’m looking for!
I really love the wardrobe approach and there are some exquisite pieces. Bravo PPP!” [Lola701]

See all the looks from the Valentino Fall 2024 collection and join the conversation, here.

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