This afternoon, Saint Laurent confirmed that Belgian-Italian designer Anthony Vaccarello has been appointed as the new creative director of the house, replacing Hedi Slimane whose departure was announced last week. While his appointment has been the subject of fashion industry hearsay for the past few months, the designer brushed off the allegations as “rumours” backstage at his eponymous label’s AW16 show in September. 

According to WWD, Vaccarello, will present his first collection for Saint Laurent during Paris Fashion Week in October. While he is on holiday and so unavailable for comment, in a statement, he described M. Yves Saint Laurent as “a legendary figure for his creativity, style and audacity. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the history of this extraordinary house.”

Francesca Bellettini, president and chief executive officer of Yves Saint Laurent, described Vaccarello’s “modern, pure aesthetic” as the “perfect fit” for the house. “(He) impeccably balances elements of provocative femininity and sharp masculinity in his silhouettes. He is the natural choice to express the essence of Yves Saint Laurent,” she went on to say. François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of the house’s owner Kering, described Vaccarello as a “vivid and young force”. 

This announcement comes in the wake of this morning’s that the designer has resigned from his position as creative director of Versus Versace. Perhaps in tribute, he posted a photograph of himself and Donatella Versace on Instagram with a heart emoji.

Today, uncoincidentally, the website for his eponymous label has been down, prompting rumours that he is closing the brand.

While he and Slimane share a love for a razor-sharp silhouette, Vaccarello’s approach to fashion is a more sensuous one – his signature is sexy and body-conscious, so it will be interesting to see how he interprets Yves Saint Laurent’s codes come October.