It's Official: Wang-lenciaga Is Over

After 5 runway collections, 10 over-all, on his 3-year term as Creative Director of the Kering-owned brand, amidst the musical chair rumor mill and the brand's growth, the luxury power-player has given its official word of Alexander Wang's exit as artistic head of the storied brand. It was a "joint decision".

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Vanessa Friedman of The New York Times, after her dismay on 'leaving / relocating' designer leak reports, insighted on this "interregnum":

For Balenciaga, the shock of the appointment of a young New York kid known for T-shirts at the hallowed house that Cristobal built, and his subsequent not-terribleness, helped consumers make the break from the 15 years of the celebrated creative director Nicolas Ghesquière’s vision for the brand, and their obsession therewith.

I like her brutal honesty:

Mr. Wang was effectively a design version of the bridge boyfriend. Now Balenciaga, and its parent company, Kering, are free to find someone else without the same expectations attached.

On that note, as  “a new Creative Director for the brand will be announced in due course,” let the speculation about who will be the next @Balenciaga creative director begin. I hear Simon Porte Jacquemus is high on the list. (But having won the LVMH Prize from Kering's luxury rival, it may be unlikely.)

Wang's last hurrah will be in October for the Spring/Summer 2016 season in Paris Fashion Week.