Hedi Slimane leaving Saint Laurent?

Is the fashion industry about to see another high-profile designer part ways with a brand he has helped revitalise?

Rumours of Hedi Slimane leaving Saint Laurent emerged last week, with various reports in Women's Wear Daily and The Telegraph suggesting that the 47-year-old designer and the fashion house's parent company, Kering, had failed to reach an agreement on the renewal of his contract.

This week, the rumours were fuelled further when the brand announced that its men's Autumn/Winter 2016 collection and part one of Slimane's Autumn/Winter womenswear collection would be shown in Los Angeles on Feb 10 in the same show instead of at Paris Fashion Week, where it is traditionally shown.

Slimane has been based in Los Angeles since 2008 and moved the Saint Laurent studio there when he took over. The second half of his Autumn/Winter 2016 womenswear show will be shown in Paris in March.

Although he has not enjoyed much critical success with his grunge and rock 'n' roll designs, his runway collections are doing well commercially and he has more than doubled the profits at Saint Laurent.

Should he leave the fashion house, Belgian designer Anthony Vaccarello has been tipped to succeed him, according to Women's Wear Daily. Vaccarello is creative director at Italian label Versus Versace and has a similar sharp and sexy design aesthetic as Slimane.

Kering owns a stable of luxury brands, including Gucci and Stella McCartney, along with Saint Laurent.

REPETTO'S SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION

Parisian label Repetto, famous for its ballet shoes, has released its Spring/Summer 2016 collection.

Photo: Repetto

Photo: Repetto

Expect party-ready platforms such as glossy patent loafers; glittery brogues (top); sweet floral lace-ups and pink T-bar heels; and updated classics such as the Daphnee (above), the brand's evergreen pointed pump, which now has a retro T-strap.

Prices range from $390 for the Cendrillon, the brand's classic ballerina flat, to $780 for the Donie in Kiss, a red metallic calfskin platform brogue.

This article was first published on January 21, 2016.
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