Jonathan Anderson is Kim Jones’ successor at Dior Men
The news is finally official: Jonathan Anderson is Kim Jones’ successor at Dior Men. He will present his first collection during men’s fashion week in June, which Bernard Arnault announced at Thursday’s LVMH annual shareholders. However, to many people’s surprise, Arnault did not say more, despite widespread speculation Anderson may also take over the women’s department at Dior, currently led by Maria Grazia Chiuri. Just a few days ago, Chiuri debuted her pre-fall 2025 collection in Kyoto and has been at the Dior brand for 16 years. During his time at Loewe, Anderson transformed Loewe from a relatively niche brand to one with revenues almost reaching 2 billion euros. [WWD]
Jean Paul Gaultier Taps Duran Lantink as Creative Director
After retiring in 2020, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Puig-owned Maison launched the “Guest Designer” collaborative series, where a different talent designed each couture collection. Past designers have included Chitose Abe, Glenn Martens, Olivier Rousteing, Haider Ackermann, Julien Dossena, Simone Rocha, Nicolas Di Felice, and Ludovic de Saint Sernin. Now, five years later, the brand has tapped International Woolmark Prize winner Duran Lantink as permanent creative director. On stepping into the role, Lantink said, “To me, Gaultier represents the ultimate house of creative spirit and savoir-faire. It’s provocative and continuously pushing boundaries. It’s the brand that brings together different disciplines around fashion to create cultural movements, changing the language of clothes and how we wear them in the streets.” Lantink will focus on ready-to-wear and couture collections while temporarily pausing his eponymous brand. His first ready-to-wear collection for Jean Paul Gaultier will debut for S/S 26 in September 2025, followed by his first couture collection in January 2026. [Vogue Business]
Louis Vuitton Headed to the Palais des Papes for Cruise Collection
Nicolas Ghesquière of Louis Vuitton will showcase the brand’s cruise collection at the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Avignon, France, on May 22nd. In alignment with its commitment to supporting local community initiatives, Vuitton will fund a project to illuminate the facades of buildings facing the squares, including the Palais des Papes, the Petit Palais, the Hôtel des Monnaies, and the Hôtel Calvet de la Palun. As artistic director of women’s collections at Vuitton since 2013, Ghesquière has built a reputation for selecting stunning architectural destinations for the brand’s cruise shows. Last year, he presented the collection at Barcelona’s Park Güell, the fairy-tale gardens designed by modernist architect Antoni Gaudí. [WWD]
SZA Launches “Not Beauty”
SZA joins the growing list of celebrities with beauty brands, launching her cruelty-free and vegan beauty line, “Not Beauty.” The brand is set to release a lip collection featuring three gloss shades: In the Flesh, Strawberry Jelly, and Quartz. According to WWD, the brand is inspired by nature, with packaging incorporating wood textures, plants, insects, and more. The lip gloss focuses on hydration, offering a non-sticky formula that promises long-lasting shine and moisture. SZA explained, “Not Beauty wasn’t about me trying to enter the beauty market, it’s about me filling a need, it’s about me needing something that lasted as long as my show, as long as my conversation, as long as my date.” The singer will debut the lip gloss collection, priced at $23, during her “Grand National Tour” with Kendrick Lamar, which kicks off on Saturday in Minneapolis and runs through June 18th. [WWD]
Coach Partners with the WNBA
Coach has officially partnered with the WNBA in a multiyear collaboration that will kick off on Draft Night this Monday at The Shed in New York City, with the WNBA Draft Orange Carpet presented by Coach. As part of this exciting collaboration, Coach will spotlight the stories of five draftees seen as “redefining the game and leading both on and off the court.” Throughout the season, Coach will participate in key WNBA events, including the All-Star Game, and will serve as the presenting sponsor of WNBA Pride—a platform launched in 2014 to support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community. This partnership underscores the growing trend of fashion brands like SKIMS and Off-White becoming increasingly involved with the WNBA through collaborations, further bridging the worlds of sports and fashion. [WWD]
Raoul Alejandre’s Surreal Glam Approach
California native Raoul Alejandre’s makeup goes far beyond brushes and pigments. He’s a storyteller who uses faces like Zendaya and Angelina Jolie as canvases for his surrealist art. From rummaging through his mother’s makeup bag at an early age to working with publications like W Magazine, Dazed, and Vogue, his journey has always been driven by curiosity, inspired by greats like Guy Bourdin and Serge Lutens. With many skills, including photography and art direction, he continues collaborating with some of the industry’s biggest names, like Louis Vuitton, Valentino, and Loewe. In this video directed by Brian Lynch, Models.com spoke to the H&M Beauty global artist about his inspirations, the power of initiative, and building his legacy of wearable art. Find the full interview here.
Model of the Week: Mollie Cotter Already Has A Jil Sander Campaign
This week’s Model of the Week, Mollie Cotter was fatefully discovered via Instagram and the rest is history. Now, after having worked with David Sims on the Jil Sander campaign, she shares with Models.com her other passions, with exclusive shots by Willow Williams. Find the full interview here.
The Latest Covers on Our Radar
With a new season underway, fashion’s leading platforms are putting the hottest models and megastars on their covers. From three past Models.com cover stars on Harper’s Bazaar US to Natalie Portman on Interview Magazine, check out the full recap here.
MDC Selects: These Rookies Dabble As Photographers and Painters
These rookies dabble as photographers and painters when they’re not modeling. Find out who was raised on a farm, who grew up away from the internet, and who jumped off a three-story building. Discover more on these new faces here.
And don’t forget a ‘Day In The Life’ with show opener Mona Kawasaki at the Dior Pre-Fall 2025 collection in Kyoto and new additions to the Hotlist rankings.
