Seán McGirr and Veronica Leoni Leave McQueen and Calvin Klein

Seán McGirr is leaving his post as creative director at Alexander McQueen after three years, and Veronica Leoni will depart Calvin Klein Collection at the end of her contract, marking a significant moment of change for two of fashion’s most closely watched houses. Both exits were confirmed on Thursday, with McQueen’s parent company Kering and Calvin Klein issuing statements thanking their outgoing creative leaders.

McGirr joined Alexander McQueen in October 2023, following the long tenure of Sarah Burton. His first collection for the house was shown in March 2024, and his final runway presentation took place in London this September, a return to the brand’s roots that was framed as a reset by chief executive Gianfranco D’Attis. Kering CEO Luca de Meo praised McGirr’s “contribution and dedication to Alexander McQueen,” stating that the company’s ambition is “to establish a bold new direction for the house, building on its unique heritage of except”.

During his time at McQueen, McGirr introduced collections that targeted a younger audience and pushed the boundaries of the house’s aesthetic, though his approach divided critics. The brand, which is owned by Kering, has been undergoing restructuring, including downsizing its store network, but the group’s focus remains on preserving the house’s distinctive identity rather than pursuing broader commercial appeal. McGirr described his approach as one that brought together intense, emotional ideas of beauty with the technical discipline that defines the house.

McGirr said he was proud of the energy the team built together, and that their work drew on contemporary culture and found a response among outspoken figures in art, music, and film. He thanked the studio, atelier, and craftspeople for their commitment, and said he looks forward to what comes next for him while wishing the house success. The company hasn’t yet named a successor, but said an announcement will be made soon. The new creative director is expected to be based in London, continuing the house’s recent shift back to its original city. The magazine has also looked at creative leadership transitions in luxury fashion.

The changes at McQueen come during a period of restructuring for the house, which has included reducing its number of stores as part of a wider Kering strategy for its smaller brands. Kering has said that Alexander McQueen has always been defined by individuality and a strong, unconventional spirit. The recent London show for Spring/Summer 2027 was seen as a return to the brand’s origins, and the next creative director will continue to work from the city.

At Calvin Klein, Leoni was named creative director of the revived Collection in May 2024 and led the brand’s runway line after it had paused following Raf Simons’ departure in 2018. Her first collection debuted at New York Fashion Week in February 2025, and she led the brand through four seasons before the announcement of her exit. Global brand president David Savman thanked Leoni for her creative vision, commitment, and partnership over the past two years, and said her talent and new approach to Calvin Klein’s design codes helped build momentum for Collection.

Leoni’s time at Calvin Klein was closely watched as she worked to bring renewed attention and status to the American label’s runway offering. The company said it will share details of a new creative leadership structure for Collection in the future, but has not yet named a successor. Leoni’s departure follows a period in which the brand sought to regain its place on the runway after several years away. The magazine has previously explored the business of creative succession in luxury houses.

These departures follow the recent exit of Anthony Vaccarello from Saint Laurent, another Kering-owned house, and recall the wave of creative reshuffles that swept the industry in 2025. That year saw more than 20 major brands change creative leadership and a large number of designers debuting at new houses during the September shows. Both McQueen and Calvin Klein are expected to announce their new creative leadership in the coming weeks.