Feb 2nd, 2016, 01:01 PM
Hollywood Palladium: Hedi Slimane's Last Showing at Saint Laurent?
Photo: Courtesy of Saint Laurent
As the fashion industry's game of musical chairs continues, rumors are flying that the upcoming Saint Laurent show will be Hedi Slimane's last for the French house.
Last year was full of surprises for the fashion world. Resignations from both Alexander Wang (leaving Balenciaga) and Raf Simons (exiting Dior) shocked fashion lovers around the world. Then there was the unceremonious ousting of Alber Elbaz, who was put out on the streets after 14 years at Lanvin.
This year is promising to be no different. On the front rows of Paris Men’s Fashion Week and the Haute Couture collections, rumors were flying about Hedi Slimane's impending exit from Saint Laurent. Business of Fashion’s founder and editor-in-chief, Imran Amed, reported that the buzz was one that he has never seen before.
Prior to PMFW, WWD reported that Slimane is leaving Saint Laurent and, designer Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Versus Versace and Donatella Versace's protégé, will take the reigns at Saint Laurent. Responding to WWD, the brand spokesperson didn't deny the rumor but simply stated: "We don't comment on rumors.”
Since his arrival at Saint Laurent, Slimane has taken the iconic Parisian house on a revolutionary ride — first, by dropping the “Yves” from its branding, and recently, reintroducing haute couture. Often referencing grunge, psychedelic glam rock and other musical subcultures in his collections, Slimane has successfully created a cult following for the Parisian house. He is known for his use of unconventional models, many of whom are often spotted on the streets of Los Angeles, his favorite city and the place he has called home since 2008. Slimane puts his mark on the Saint Laurent legacy with the grungy, rock ’n roll looks; looks that scream cool sans effort. Despite criticisms for having repetitive collections, the sales at Saint Laurent have skyrocketed.
The speculation seems even more plausible when earlier this year, after releasing two teaser videos featuring Ariel Pink and Kim and the Created, Saint Laurent announced that its Autumn/Winter 2016 Menswear collection will be shown at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on February 10th, foregoing its usual time slot during PMFW in January. The show will also feature pieces from the womenswear collection, which will be presented in full during Paris Fashion Week in March.
Moving locations for shows is not unusual in the fashion world, with the examples of Chanel Métier d’Arts and Resort shows taking place in various locales around the world such as Texas, Dubai, Seoul, Italy, etc. This being said, Saint Laurent’s move to Los Angeles seems more than a coincidence. Everyone is questioning if this will be Slimane’s last show for the house because he has chosen to present the collection in the city where he lives and works, and from where he has drawn much of his inspiration.
The more ins and outs that take place within the fashion world, the more vulnerable it seems. The question of the never-ending game of musical chairs seems amusing to some, but as a multi-billionaire industry, fashion plays a major role within the global economy. Whether or not the show at the Hollywood Palladium will be Slimane's last for Saint Laurent, it will definitely be one to remember.
