Veronica Leoni is leaving Calvin Klein after four seasons, the company announced on Thursday. A successor has not yet been named, but the brand said in a statement it will announce its new creative leadership for its Collection line in due course.
“I want to thank Veronica for her creative vision, commitment and partnership over the past two years,” said David Savman, global brand president, Calvin Klein. “Reintroducing Collection was a significant milestone for Calvin Klein, and Veronica’s exceptional talent and fresh perspective on Calvin’s iconic design codes helped build meaningful momentum for Collection. Collection remains an important part of our brand; we are excited by the progress to date and look forward to its continued evolution.”
Leoni was appointed creative director of Calvin Klein Collection in May 2024 and made her debut at New York Fashion Week in February 2025 for the autumn/winter 2025 season. The show marked Calvin Klein’s return to the runway after a seven-year absence. Leoni’s fourth and final collection for Calvin Klein debuted in September 2026. The brand said that Collection “remains an important part of Calvin Klein’s long-term strategy and the pinnacle expression of the brand”.
Leoni was hired by former Calvin Klein president Eva Serrano, who departed the brand in May 2025, just three months following Leoni’s debut. Leoni – the first woman to lead the New York fashion house – came bearing experience working with European labels including Jil Sander, Phoebe Philo’s Céline, Moncler and The Row. She also had her own label, Quira, which was put on pause after she took the Calvin Klein job. Leoni’s first show became one of the most anticipated for New York fashion in recent years, but after a few seasons, critics decided her work was overcomplicated for a brand best known for its minimalist ’90s aesthetic and blue jeans. Her most recent collection was a step toward simplification, and became her most well-received of her four seasons at the brand. Her departure makes her the latest in the designer revolving door and leaves open yet another vacancy fashion is sure to speculate over.
Calvin Klein Collection, the brand’s luxury tier, has had two other creative directors since its founder retired in 2003: Francisco Costa and Raf Simons. Simons, who was chief creative officer from 2016-2018, reimagined the collection as Calvin Klein 205W39NYC; after his departure, the brand stepped back from the runway.
Calvin Klein sales fell 7 per cent year over year in Q2, which PVH reported in July. PVH CEO Stefan Larsson, who’s overseeing a broader PVH+ Plan to steer Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger into modernised lifestyle companies, said last September that the goal for Calvin Klein Collection is to be “the ultimate expression of the brand”, which is otherwise known for its celebrity-fronted denim and underwear campaigns. We’ll have to wait and see where it fits into PVH’s bigger plans without Leoni. As for Leoni, maybe Quira will get another go.