Daily Front Row

2012 February 27

Stefano Pilati Exits YSL

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Stefano Pilati
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(NEW YORK) After eight years as creative director at Yves Saint Laurent, the last three of which were accompanied by steady rumors about his impending departure, Stefano Pilati is bidding adieu to the French fashion house. Prior to becoming creative director, Pilati joined the brand in 2000. Pilati's final YSL collection, of Fall 2012 womenswear, will bow in Paris on March 5; following the show, he will exit the PPR-owned company.

‘We are all at Yves Saint Laurent grateful to Stefano for his important achievements in advancing the mission and success of this historic and treasured fashion house," said Yves Saint Laurent CEO Paul Deneve in a statement. Aligned with Deneve's sentiment, François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of YSL parent company PPR, issued a statement "thanking Stefano for his dedication and contribution to the story of Yves Saint Laurent. I personally wish him all the best."

YSL plans to announce Pilati's successor in the upcoming weeks; speculation of the brand's next creative director seems focused on Hedi Slimane, formerly YSL men's designer circa the late nineties. Slimane left his mark with extremely slim-cut suiting, which he continued as artistic director at Dior Homme from 2001 through 2007. However, YSL and PPR intend to keep quiet about the matter until after Pilati's departure next week. In other words: stay tuned.
ALEXANDRA ILYASHOV