February 5, 2026 |
It’s official: Pieter Mulier is in at Versace.
After heading up Alaïa for five years, the Belgian designer has been appointed the Italian house’s new chief creative officer, joining the house from July 1. His first collection will be be unveiled in September in Milan.
The news follows the shock departure of Dario Vitale, who left Versace in December after just one season at the helm of the house. He had succeeded Donatella Versace who had led Versace for 27 years following the tragic murder of her brother, Gianni. She now has transitioned into a chief brand ambassador role.
Shortly before Vitale’s exit, Prada Group had successfully acquired Versace for a staggering £1.04bn. Mulier will charge the house forward into its next chapter.
At Alaïa, Mulier was tasked with continuing the legacy of Azzedine Alaïa, a designer defined by precision, intimacy and a rigorous focus on the female form. Rather than attempting to reinterpret the house through disruption, Mulier worked within its established codes, modernising them with discipline and restraint. His move to Versace represents a clear shift in tone. Known for its bold glamour and assertive silhouettes, the Italian house presents a different challenge, though Mulier’s technical background and understanding of structure will lead the house into an exciting new era.
Mulier’s move also marks a reunion of sorts with Raf Simons, co-creative of Prada alongside Miuccia Prada, with Mulier working as Simons’ right-hand-man at Dior, Calvin Klein and for Simons’ eponymous label.
“We are very happy, this is a decision made a long time ago, I remember we were brainstorming [about a creative direction] as far back as autumn 2024,” Versace’s executive chairman Lorenzo Bertelli told WWD. “We had started to really focus on potentially investing in Versace even during the pandemic.”
A new Versace age is upon us. Let Mulier’s magic unfold.
Portrait courtesy of Alaïa.
