Fashion’s exit season has arrived: Veronica Leoni leaves Calvin Klein, Seán McGirr departs McQueen

After Anthony Vaccarello’s departure from Saint Laurent last week, fashion’s next round of creative upheaval has arrived with unusual speed. On Thursday, Calvin Klein confirmed that Veronica Leoni will leave Calvin Klein Collection when her current contract ends, while Kering announced that Seán McGirr is departing McQueen after three years as creative director.

Calvin Klein resets again

WWD was first to report Leoni’s exit, publishing the news shortly before Calvin Klein confirmed that she and the brand would part ways at the end of her contract.

Leoni was appointed creative director of the revived Calvin Klein Collection in May 2024 and presented her first collection in New York in February 2025. Her departure comes after four seasons, closing a brief but closely watched attempt to restore prestige and runway relevance to the American house.

Calvin Klein said a new creative leadership structure for Collection would be revealed “in due course.” The company has not named a successor.

McQueen makes another change

At McQueen, Seán McGirr’s departure was confirmed by Kering on Thursday. He had joined the house in October 2023, succeeding Sarah Burton after her 26-year tenure, and showed his first collection in March 2024.

McGirr’s exit follows his first London runway show for the house in September, a homecoming that was framed as a reset for the brand under chief executive Gianfranco D’Attis. McQueen said it will announce new creative leadership soon.

A new reshuffle season

Vaccarello’s departure from Saint Laurent was announced by Kering on October 9, ending his 10-year tenure at the house. The company said at the time that his successor would be named shortly, though no appointment had been confirmed as of Thursday.

The sequence has revived memories of 2025’s great designer reshuffle, when more than 20 leading brands changed creative hands and 16 designers debuted at 15 houses during the September 2025 shows.