Trends

5 fashion designers to watch in 2014

With a host of stylish shake-ups, 2014 promises to be an exciting year for the world’s biggest fashion designers.

by : Ava Baccari- Jan 14th, 2014

Fashion, like life, is often as much about the players as it is about the game. Lately, a select group of
top fashion designers have been playing musical chairs, swapping spots at the world’s biggest fashion houses. Here are the top five fashion designers we’re excited to watch in 2014.

Fashion designer: Nicolas Ghesquière
Last seen: He helmed French fashion house Balenciaga from 1997 to 2012.

New gig: The French designer was named artistic director of Louis Vuitton last fall.

Why 2014 is his year: Ghesquière is credited with making haute both cool
and edgy at Balenciaga, and his departure—right after debuting the house’s
Spring 2013 collection— came as a surprise. Since Balenciaga is now in good hands with New York streetwear designer Alexander Wang, we can’t wait to see how Ghesquière’s premiere Fall 2014 collection for Louis Vuitton—debuting Paris Fashion Week in February—will continue the house’s legacy. Also, we missed him.

GALLERY: The 20 best fashion Instagrams from Spring 2014

Fashion designer: Marc Jacobs
Last seen: During his 16-year tenure at Louis Vuitton.

New gig: Jacobs left the French fashion house to focus on his namesake labels, Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Why 2014 is his year: While it’s been an ongoing game of designer musical chairs for a while, it seems that the drama has leveled off (for now) and everyone can get back to designing their respective collections. And that’s just what Jacobs is planning, as he moves toward an initial public offering in about three years.

SPRING 2014: Runway trend report

More designers to watch in 2014 on the next page…

Fashion designer: Jeremy Scott
Last seen: Scott launched his namesake label in Paris in 1997 and was involved in high-profile collaborations with brands like Adidas and Swatch.

New gig: Scott was named the new creative director at Moschino last fall.

Why 2014 is his year: Known for his outlandish and street art-infused designs, the L.A.-based designer has bestowed his brand of quirky edge to stars from Katy Perry to
Rihanna. He debuts his first collection for Moschino at its Fall 2014 runway show during Milan Fashion Week in February.

Spring 2014: The top 50 RUNWAY LOOKS

Fashion designer: Marco Zanini
Last seen: As creative director of Rochas since 2009.

New gig: Zanini revives the dormant Italian house of Schiaparelli as its creative director. (Alessandro Dell’Acqua will take the reigns at Rochas.)

Why 2014 is his year: Italian-born French couturier Elsa Schiaparelli’s namesake label shuttered in 1954, and was revived in a one-off couture collection by Christian LaCroix last fall. Now officially at the helm to reawaken this sleeping label, Zanini debuts his couture collection in January during Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris.

GALLERY: 60 best Spring 2014 accessories

Fashion designer: David Koma
Last seen: Georgian designer Koma launched his eponymous label in 2009 in London, right after graduating from Central Saint Martins.

New gig: Koma replaces Nicola Formichetti’s recently vacated role as artistic director of women’s ready-to-wear at Mugler.

Why 2014 is his year: Known for his sculptural and sleek designs, the 28-year-old Koma replaces Formichetti, who decamped in April for Diesel as its artistic director. Koma’s first collection will be Mugler’s resort line in June, and he takes to the runway for its Spring 2015 collection at Paris Fashion Week in September.