Chemena Kamali to Saint Laurent? Fashion Rumors Point to a Potential Creative Director Shake-Up

The fashion rumor mill is heating up with speculation surrounding two major creative-director positions. Chemena Kamali is reportedly being discussed as a potential successor to Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent, amid growing rumors that Vaccarello could be preparing to step away from the Parisian fashion house after a decade at the helm.

At this time, nothing has been officially confirmed by Saint Laurent, Kering, Chloé or Richemont, making the reports firmly speculative. However, the timing of the rumors has sparked considerable interest across the fashion industry.

Speculation surrounding a possible Vaccarello departure began circulating in August, while separate reports suggested that Kamali could potentially leave Chloé, less than three years after being appointed creative director. The two rumors have naturally become connected, particularly because of Kamali’s history with Saint Laurent.

Before returning to Chloé as creative director in 2023, Kamali spent several years at Saint Laurent. She joined the house in 2016 as Women’s Ready-to-Wear Design Director, working under Vaccarello and gaining first-hand experience with his creative vision and the house’s design language.

That previous relationship with Saint Laurent has made Kamali’s name particularly intriguing as speculation surrounding the brand’s future continues to grow.

Kamali’s appointment at Chloé represented a return to the house where she had previously worked on two separate occasions, first during Phoebe Philo’s tenure and later under Clare Waight Keller. Since taking the creative reins, Kamali has established a distinctly romantic and bohemian aesthetic for Chloé while also bringing renewed attention to the house’s heritage, including the revival of the iconic Paddington bag.

Rumors of a potential departure from Chloé therefore came as something of a surprise. However, the house has not confirmed that Kamali is leaving her position.

Vaccarello’s future at Saint Laurent is equally uncertain.

The Belgian-Italian designer was appointed Saint Laurent’s creative director in 2016 following Hedi Slimane’s departure. Over the past decade, Vaccarello has played a major role in shaping the modern identity of the house, helping Saint Laurent expand significantly under Kering while broadening his creative ambitions beyond fashion.

His work has also extended into film through Saint Laurent Productions, fueling speculation that he could eventually devote more attention to cinema.

Still, there are important reasons to approach the current reports with caution. Vaccarello remains officially listed as Saint Laurent’s artistic director, and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode currently credits him in that position ahead of Saint Laurent’s September 29, 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week. The house has also continued releasing Fall 2026 content under Vaccarello’s name.

Despite that, fashion insiders and social media accounts have increasingly connected the two stories: Vaccarello potentially leaving Saint Laurent and Kamali potentially making a return.

If the rumors ultimately prove accurate, Kamali would bring an unusual advantage to the role. She already understands Saint Laurent’s creative culture from her years inside the house, while her work at Chloé has given her a much larger international profile and an opportunity to establish her own distinct creative identity.

For now, however, the most accurate version of the story is also the simplest: Chemena Kamali is being linked to Saint Laurent, while Anthony Vaccarello is being rumored to be on his way out. Neither move has been officially announced.

With Paris Fashion Week approaching and Saint Laurent scheduled to present its collection on September 29, any change at the top of the house would immediately become one of the biggest stories of the season.

Disclaimer: D.M. Fashion Book cannot independently confirm these reports or rumors. This story is based on industry speculation and reports circulating online and should not be considered confirmation of any potential creative-director changes at Saint Laurent or Chloé.

Photos: Chloé