On March 22, it was announced that Valentino’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli, would leave the brand after 25 years. Piccioli joined the brand in 1999 and was hand-selected, alongside Maria Grazia Chiuri, as the lead designers for Valentino’s accessories. In 2007, they were promoted to creative directors of accessories, working under Alessandra Facchinetti, creative director of ready-to-wear. Piccioli and Chiuri succeeded Facchinetti and became the co-creative directors of Valentino. 

Until 2016, when Chiuri left to become the creative director of Dior, the two worked side-by-side to carry on Valentino’s legacy. Piccioli became the sole creative director until his recent departure. Within a week, it was announced that Alessandro Michele, the former creative director of Gucci, credited with turning Gucci into a $10-billion brand, would succeed Piccioli as creative director.