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Anthony Vaccarello Named New Creative Director Of Saint Laurent

The news comes shortly after Vaccarello announced he would be stepping down as creative director for Versus Versace, Monday.

On Monday, April 4, Saint Laurent's parent company Kering announced that Belgian fashion designer, Anthony Vaccarello, will succeed photographer and fashion designer, Hedi Slimane, as creative director of the fashion house founded by couturier Yves Saint Laurent.

Speculation first mounted that Vaccarello would take over Saint Laurent Paris after he quit Versace on Monday.

Creative director Anthony Vaccarello and Donatella Versace appear at on the runway at the Versus show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 on Sept. 19, 2015 in London.

The rumour mill has been working overtime since Hedi Slimane left YSL last Friday, with many fashion insiders convinced that Vaccarello would succeed him.

The 33-year-old, who has won many fans with his sexy, leggy look, first came to fame with a collection inspired by the Hungarian-Italian porn actress turned politician la Cicciolina.

Donatella Versace seemed to hint that Vaccarello — who comes from an Italian family — was going onto greater things when she said that he was standing down as creative director of her Versus label.

A model walks the runway of the Versus show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 on Sept. 19, 2015 in London.

"In the past several years, I have worked with three great young talents on Versus Versace, Christopher Kane, JW Anderson and Anthony Vaccarello," she said in a statement. "While I’m sad to see him leave the Versace family, I wish Anthony Vaccarello tremendous success with his next chapter."

Vaccarello posted a photo on social networks of himself posing alongside Donatella Versace with a heart symbol as the message — a way of turning the page on this chapter of his career and thanking the designer for trusting and supporting him over the last few years.

❤️ @donatella_versace @versus_versace

A photo posted by Anthony Vaccarello (@anthonyvaccarello) on

Scottish-born Kane's own brand has since been bought by fashion giant Kering, while Irishman Anderson now heads the Spanish luxury label Loewe.

Vaccarello's typically monochrome dresses, often with plunging necklines, have an almost wild edge to them, and have won him major fashion prizes, including the top prize at the Hyeres festival.

Although his designs may be sexy and confident, he has a reputation for shyness.

He also worked for Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi before setting up his own brand in 2009 and becoming a regular fixture of Paris fashion weeks.

With files from Madelyn Chung.

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