Pierpaolo Piccioli announces his departure from Valentino after 25 years

On 27 March 2024, Italian designer Pierpaolo Piccioli announced that he was leaving Valentino, the Rome-founded luxury house where he had worked for 25 years. He had joined in 1999 as a designer in the accessories department and rose steadily through the creative ranks.

Piccioli became co-creative director in 2008 alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri. When Chiuri left for Dior in 2016, he took sole charge of the house's collections. Under his direction Valentino was known for its dramatic couture, strong use of colour, especially the brand's signature red and a vivid pink shade, and an emphasis on inclusive casting on the runway.

The departure mattered because Piccioli was closely identified with the brand's modern image and commercial growth. Valentino soon named Alessandro Michele, formerly of Gucci, as his successor. Piccioli's exit set up the next stage of his career, and his later move to another major fashion house is the context for the latest news.