Veronica Leoni Is Leaving Calvin Klein After Less Than Two Years

Images via Getty, Gorunway, Calvin Klein Collection

Veronica Leoni is leaving Calvin Klein after less than two years, bringing her brief tenure at the American house to an end.

Leoni arrived at Calvin Klein with an impressive résumé, having worked at Jil Sander, Céline under Phoebe Philo, The Row, and Moncler before establishing her own label, Quira. Her appointment was particularly exciting because it marked the return of Calvin Klein Collection to the runway after a lengthy absence. There was a lot of anticipation surrounding what she might do with a brand whose identity has always been rooted in American minimalism, sensuality, and clothes that feel effortlessly chic. Her debut for Fall 2025 introduced a wardrobe of precise tailoring, clean silhouettes, and familiar Calvin Klein signatures, but with a distinctly European sensibility.

What made Leoni's approach interesting was her ability to revisit the brand's past without making the clothes feel entirely nostalgic. There were references to the Calvin Klein of the 1990s, particularly the simplicity and sensuality that defined the label during that period, but she also brought her own ideas about proportion, structure, and how women actually want to dress. Some collections felt more convincing than others, which is hardly surprising for a designer still finding her footing at such an established house. Still, there was something promising about watching her develop a language that could eventually become her own version of Calvin Klein.

Her departure raises questions about what comes next for the Collection line. Calvin Klein has spent the past several years rebuilding its presence in the designer market, and Leoni's appointment was an important part of that effort. Finding a creative director who can balance the brand's enormous commercial identity with a compelling runway proposition will remain a challenge. As for Leoni, her experience and distinctive point of view make her next move particularly interesting. We would love to see what she could accomplish with more time and creative freedom, whether that means returning to Quira or taking on another house.

Calvin Klein confirmed the departure on October 15, 2026, following four runway collections, with Leoni's Spring 2027 presentation in September marking her final show. David Savman, the brand's global president, thanked the designer for helping reintroduce Collection and confirmed that the line remains central to Calvin Klein's long term plans. A successor has yet to be announced. The timing is especially interesting given that her most recent collection received a warmer response, suggesting that Leoni was beginning to find a clearer direction. For now, the reason behind the decision remains undisclosed, but her exit adds another name to the growing list of creative directors leaving major houses this season.