# Saint Laurent: creative directors and runway casting

> Anthony Vaccarello is Saint Laurent’s creative director, a role announced in April 2016. Before: Hedi Slimane (2012–2016). Checked 1 October 2026. Saint Laurent has had 7 creative leads since 1961, each sourced on this page. The Cast Index ledger records 5 verified runway walks for Saint Laurent, by models including Loli Bahia, Anja Rubik and Binx Walton.

- Canonical: https://thecastindex.com/houses/saint-laurent
- Updated: 2026-10-05
- Author: Kaiser Khan (Founder & Editor)
- Based in: Paris, France
- House tier (methodology Appendix A): A
- Identifiers: [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2282172) · [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Saint_Laurent_(fashion_house))
- Creative-director record checked: 1 October 2026

## Who is the creative director of Saint Laurent?

Anthony Vaccarello is Saint Laurent’s creative director, a role announced in April 2016. Before: Hedi Slimane (2012–2016). Checked 1 October 2026.

Vaccarello showed the spring/summer 2027 collection in Paris on 29 September 2026. AFP reported persistent speculation that he could leave; neither Saint Laurent nor Kering had commented when we checked on 1 October 2026. ([source](https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/saint-laurent-designer-vaccarello-hints-at-change/2026092990621))

Previously: Hedi Slimane (2012–2016).

## Who have been Saint Laurent’s creative directors?

In order: Yves Saint Laurent (founder, 1961–2002), Hedi Slimane (1997–2000), Alber Elbaz (1998–1999), Tom Ford (2000–2004), Stefano Pilati (2004–2012), Hedi Slimane (2012–2016), Anthony Vaccarello (2016–present). Each entry in the timeline on this page links its source.

| Years | Name | Role | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1961–2002 | Yves Saint Laurent | Founder and couturier | [Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris — Les adieux](https://museeyslparis.com/en/biography/les-adieux) |
| 1997–2000 | Hedi Slimane | Artistic director of menswear | [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent appoints Hedi Slimane (7 March 2012)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-appoints-hedi-slimane-as-creative-director/) |
| 1998–1999 | Alber Elbaz | Creative director, Rive Gauche womenswear | [Drapers — Alber Elbaz: the legacy of a designer (26 April 2021)](https://www.drapersonline.com/product-and-trends/alber-elbaz-the-legacy-of-a-designer-with-unbridled-creativity-and-warmth) |
| 2000–2004 | Tom Ford | Creative director, YSL Rive Gauche | [CFDA — Tom Ford](https://cfda.com/member/tom-ford/) |
| 2004–2012 | Stefano Pilati | Creative director | [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent announces the departure of Stefano Pilati (27 February 2012)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-announces-departure-creative-director-stefano-pilati/) |
| 2012–2016 | Hedi Slimane | Creative and image director | [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent announces the departure of Hedi Slimane (1 April 2016)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-announces-departure-creative-image-director-hedi-slimane/) |
| 2016–present (current) | Anthony Vaccarello | Creative director | [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent appoints Anthony Vaccarello as Creative Director (4 April 2016)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-appoints-anthony-vaccarello-as-creative-director/) |

## Which models have walked for Saint Laurent?

The Cast Index ledger records 5 verified walks for Saint Laurent, including Loli Bahia, Anja Rubik, Binx Walton, Mica Argañaraz, Mona Tougaard.

| Season | Role | Model | Show | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SS27 Menswear | Walked | [Loli Bahia](https://thecastindex.com/models/loli-bahia) | [Paris Fashion Week Menswear SS27](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-menswear-ss27) | [source](https://www.vogue.fr/article/saint-laurent-madonna-charlie-xcx-defile-homme-printemps-ete-2027) |
| SS27 | Walked | [Anja Rubik](https://thecastindex.com/models/anja-rubik) | [Paris Fashion Week SS27](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-ss27) | [source](https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/saint-laurent-spring-2027-runway-photos) |
| SS27 | Walked | [Binx Walton](https://thecastindex.com/models/binx-walton) | [Paris Fashion Week SS27](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-ss27) | [source](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/binx-walton-walks-the-runway-during-the-saint-laurent-ready-news-photo/2297790369) |
| SS27 | Walked | [Mica Argañaraz](https://thecastindex.com/models/mica-arganaraz) | [Paris Fashion Week SS27](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-ss27) | [source](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mica-arganaraz-walks-the-runway-during-the-saint-laurent-news-photo/2297790043) |
| SS27 | Walked | [Mona Tougaard](https://thecastindex.com/models/mona-tougaard) | [Paris Fashion Week SS27](https://thecastindex.com/events/paris-fashion-week-ss27) | [source](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mona-tougaard-walks-the-runway-during-the-saint-laurent-news-photo/2297790456) |

## Common questions

### Who is the creative director of Saint Laurent?

Anthony Vaccarello is Saint Laurent’s creative director, a role announced in April 2016. Before: Hedi Slimane (2012–2016). Checked 1 October 2026.

### Who was the creative director of Saint Laurent before Anthony Vaccarello?

Anthony Vaccarello succeeded Hedi Slimane (creative and image director, 2012–2016). The full timeline is on this page, with a source for each term.

### Who have been Saint Laurent’s creative directors?

In order: Yves Saint Laurent (founder, 1961–2002), Hedi Slimane (1997–2000), Alber Elbaz (1998–1999), Tom Ford (2000–2004), Stefano Pilati (2004–2012), Hedi Slimane (2012–2016), Anthony Vaccarello (2016–present). Each entry in the timeline on this page links its source.

### Which models have walked for Saint Laurent?

The Cast Index ledger records 5 verified walks for Saint Laurent, including Loli Bahia, Anja Rubik, Binx Walton, Mica Argañaraz, Mona Tougaard.

## Sources

- [Kering — Saint Laurent](https://www.kering.com/en/houses/fashion-and-leather-goods/saint-laurent/)
- [FashionUnited / AFP — Saint Laurent designer Vaccarello hints at change (29 September 2026)](https://fashionunited.uk/news/fashion/saint-laurent-designer-vaccarello-hints-at-change/2026092990621)
- [Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris — Les adieux](https://museeyslparis.com/en/biography/les-adieux)
- [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent appoints Hedi Slimane (7 March 2012)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-appoints-hedi-slimane-as-creative-director/)
- [Drapers — Alber Elbaz: the legacy of a designer (26 April 2021)](https://www.drapersonline.com/product-and-trends/alber-elbaz-the-legacy-of-a-designer-with-unbridled-creativity-and-warmth)
- [CFDA — Tom Ford](https://cfda.com/member/tom-ford/)
- [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent announces the departure of Stefano Pilati (27 February 2012)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-announces-departure-creative-director-stefano-pilati/)
- [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent announces the departure of Hedi Slimane (1 April 2016)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-announces-departure-creative-image-director-hedi-slimane/)
- [Kering — Yves Saint Laurent appoints Anthony Vaccarello as Creative Director (4 April 2016)](https://www.kering.com/en/news/yves-saint-laurent-appoints-anthony-vaccarello-as-creative-director/)

Each ledger walk links its own published source. Walks are recorded only when a source names the model, the house and the show; the ledger is incomplete by design.

Cite as: The Cast Index, "Saint Laurent", https://thecastindex.com/houses/saint-laurent.