In the latest instalment of the big fashion switch-around, Lanvin is the next label with an announcement as to its direction: having spent less than a year on the job, artistic director of womenswear Olivier Lapidus has stepped down from his role at the house.

The maison has been having something of an identity crisis since artistic director Alber Elbaz departed in 2015. His successor, Bouchra Jarrar, also lasted just two collections before exiting in July 2017.

Upon his appointment last year, though, Lapidus had an optimistic and impressive vision for the womenswear arm of the French label, telling WWD that he wanted to turn Lanvin from an “identity-less brand” into a house that was “focused on chic, diverse evening clothes, but with room for a daywear section that leans towards sophisticated.” Sadly, his collections were critically panned. 

In a statement released yesterday, interim CEO Joann Cheng said “Olivier steered the maison through a transitional period between ownerships. We thank him for that, and wish him every success for his own brand and future endeavours.” Having shown his final collection for the brand in February, Lapidus will revive his eponymous label, Creation Olivier Lapidus.

Lucas Ossendrijver will continue to design Lanvin menswear, but who’s set to take over womenswear? Your guess is as good as ours...

Revisit Lapidus’s first collection for Lanvin below: