Hermès Taps Grace Wales Bonner as Creative Director of Hermès Men’s
Just as Véronique Nichanian exited Hermès, the French house announced her successor a few days later: Grace Wales Bonner, who will serve as the brand’s new menswear creative director. Wales Bonner shared, “I am deeply honored to be appointed Artistic Director of Hermès Men’s Ready-to-Wear. Beginning this new chapter and joining such a lineage of artisans and creators is a dream for me. I express my sincere gratitude to Axel Dumas and Pierre-Alexis Dumas for giving me the opportunity to bring my vision to this truly magical house.” The appointment is a historic one, as Wales Bonner is the first Black woman to lead a major luxury house. A full-circle moment for the designer as in a 2018 interview with System Magazine, she said, “A dream of mine would be to work with a tailoring brand, as that is at the core of what I am doing. Maybe a brand like Hermès, or even a Savile Row tailoring house.” [WWD]
L’Oréal Acquires Kering Beauty for €4 Billion
Kering has agreed to sell its beauty business to L’Oréal for €4 billion ($4.7 billion), marking the first major strategic move by new CEO Luca de Meo as he works to reduce the company’s debt. Under the deal, French beauty giant L’Oréal will acquire Kering’s fragrance label Creed, along with exclusive 50-year rights to develop fragrance and beauty products for Kering’s fashion houses, including Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. Shares in Kering jumped 4.8% on Monday, while L’Oréal rose 1.2%. The acquisition will be L’Oréal’s largest to date, surpassing its 2023 purchase of Australian brand Aesop for $2.5 billion. [WWD]
Soshi Otsuki Named Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo 2025
Soshi Otsuki, winner of the 2025 LVMH Prize for Young Designers, has been announced as the guest designer for the upcoming edition of Pitti Uomo, taking place from January 13 to 16. Known for blending Japanese and Western menswear influences and for his oversized suits inspired by 1980s-era Giorgio Armani, Otsuki brings his distinct aesthetic to Florence. Reflecting on a previous experience in an Italy-based fashion contest, Otsuki shared, “At the time, I felt that Japan’s somber atmosphere did not quite belong under the bright Italian sky, and perhaps I gave up on the idea. Now, more than a decade later, I am deeply honored to be able to present a show here in Florence. I am curious and excited to see how Soshiotsuki’s clothing will resonate under the Italian sky today.” The Japanese designer will present his men’s Fall 2026 collection at the renowned menswear trade fair with a runway show.[WWD]
Stephen Galloway and AeLi Park Launch The Movement Kreative
Celebrated movement director Stephen Galloway and his longtime agent and manager AeLi Park have launched The Movement Kreative (TMK), the first agency focused exclusively on representing and supporting movement directors. The role that was once overlooked but is now essential in shaping how brands, music videos, live performances, and fashion and beauty campaigns move and feel. “Creative movement direction has become the language, the connective tissue, central to how brands communicate through imagery and motion,” said Galloway. “TMK, is about elevating that language and ensuring that the artists behind it operate on a global scale.” Learn more about Stephen Galloway and how he got his start in his Models.com interview here.
Remembering Visionary Fashion Stylist Melanie Ward
The fashion world is mourning the loss of Melanie Ward, a true visionary and one of the most influential stylists of our time. With David Sims and Corinne Day, she helped define the grunge movement of the ’90s and shaped the career of a young Kate Moss. Her eye completely changed our thoughts about style, individuality, and authenticity. After fourteen incredible years at Harper’s Bazaar, Melanie brought her sharp sensibility to Dior Men, where she worked alongside Kim Jones for his creative director tenure. Models.com is heartbroken to say goodbye to a true visionary whose legacy will live on in every image she touched. To reflect on her past career, click the link here.
Celebrated Model Agent Louie Chaban Has Passed
Louie Chaban came from a time when fashion was alive, unpredictable, and driven by instinct. From working the door at the Mudd Club to shaping the careers of Karen Elson, Maggie Rizer, Erin O’Connor and countless others, he had a rare gift for spotting potential and telling stories through people. Models.com has gathered some of the outpouring of appreciation for the role he played in people’s lives as talents like Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell took to social media in honor of the late, legendary agent whose impact won’t be forgotten. Click here to see what the models shared.
Model of the Week: From Dior to Miu Miu, Glorianny St Fleur Mapped Out Her Own Journey
Model of the Week Glorianny Saint Fleur is the 20-year-old Dominican model who went from a casting in Santo Domingo to walking the Dior show in Kyoto. Between fantasy novels and a love for psychology, she’s bringing heart and curiosity to fashion. Read the full interview by editor Rosie Daly here.
The Latest Covers on Our Radar
Fall’s fashion covers have been serving pure star power as of late. From Ayo Edebiri, Greta Lee, and Nicole Kidman on Vogue to Gwyneth Paltrow’s return to British Vogue and Addison Rae lighting up W Magazine, this roundup of magazines needs to be on your radar. Discover more campaigns and covers, only on Models.com.
MDC Selects: These New Faces Prove It’s All About the Fashion Journey
These new faces prove it doesn’t matter how long it takes; it’s about the fashion journey. Six models share more about how they got discovered, whose script was made into a movie, and who held a green mamba as a little kid. Check out their answers here.
After a season full of debuts, Models.com brings you three exclusive interviews with Top Newcomers, Luna Yohannan, Echo Zhao, and Audrey Lees who stood out, secured top shows, and left us wanting more.
