Designer’s Last Collection Before Being Let Go (Their Swan Song)

Why is no one already mentioned Gucci Fall 2004?
It's living in my mind rent free as the most iconic swan song runway show ever.
Stellar show with solid daywear offerings and show stopping eveningwear section.
Those white gowns with graphic slits and Dyonisus detail...amazing
 
Why is no one already mentioned Gucci Fall 2004?
It's living in my mind rent free as the most iconic swan song runway show ever.
Stellar show with solid daywear offerings and show stopping eveningwear section.
Those white gowns with graphic slits and Dyonisus detail...amazing
Here @Salvatore mentioned it
Let me just say, great thread idea @TomBlanksFullFatMiuMiu !!!

I'm too lazy to post Tom Ford's last collections for Gucci and YSL. I preferred his YSL collection to the Gucci one for sure !
The same, I think his last collection for Gucci is one of my least favorite collection from him. FW1995 comes second.

Nevertheless

Tom Ford for Gucci FW2004



Tom Ford for YSL Rive Gauche FW2004
 
The last Tom Ford show by Tom Ford. Although I remember it wasn't that well received, after that moment nothing was the same for the brand. (even though it's true that he wasn't fired)
 
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Jil Sander had 3 swan songs: FW2000, FW2005 (she quit a bit before the show) and finally SS2014. There’s no footage of the FW2005 I think.

Her first swan song: FW2000


Her last swan song: SS2014
 
The last show by Gianni Versace before his death - FW 1997 haute couture I believe - was beautiful.

Alexander McQueen's too. McQueen did design FW 2010, right ?

(I'm so sorry I am too lazy to post the videos/photos)
 
With all the musical chairs going on, I want to start a thread focusing on designers' final collections ~ their swan songs before being let go from a major house. Do they go big, or have they already given up and are just collecting their paychecks?

This season, FW2025, we have Jil Sander and Kim Jones at Dior Homme so far
And maybe Maria’s Dior, maybe Daniel Lee's Burberry

My favorite will always be Marc Jacobs' Louis Vuitton Spring 2014 collection, and I am grateful that LVMH allowed for such an elaborate set

Excellent idea, here goes my afternoon, watching all of these !
Much love for that.
Here is my suggestion:
 
The last show by Gianni Versace before his death - FW 1997 haute couture I believe - was beautiful.

Alexander McQueen's too. McQueen did design FW 2010, right ?

(I'm so sorry I am too lazy to post the videos/photos)
Im helping you lol

Atelier Versace FW1997


Alexander McQueen FW2010
 
Lindsay Lohan for Ungaro


Iconic show but damn, one of the worst shows ever: the tacky and garish color combo of barbie pink + bright orange and barbie pink + bright blue, the nipple pasties, the ultramini dresses and skirts that screamed low budget escort, the platform heels with the thick straps, the harem pants, the cheap hearts print, the 20's inspired final looks with the fur stole and the headpiece. A mix of everything that was (and still is) wrong in fashion. The Ungaro CEO was way ahead of the time with the celeb / designer thingie, however the proposition was not strong enough to be considered by the critics and the general public
 
OMG I forgot about Sabato!!!!

Gucci Spring Summer 2025

Funnily enough, his best show.
Maybe had he started with this show instead of the basic crap of his debut, he would lasted a little big longer...the point of view was weak but at least it was there (summer sunset degradè...nothing groundbreaking), the proposition was nice (apart from the very first basic "relaxed" looks) and the accessories were strong enough.
 
Jil Sander had 3 swan songs: FW2000, FW2005 (she quit a bit before the show) and finally SS2014. There’s no footage of the FW2005 I think.

Her first swan song: FW2000


Her last swan song: SS2014

It is kind of crazy to think that FW2000 is 25 (!!) years old and somehow, this is still as relevant as back than. You could wear ANY of these looks today and look good. Granted, we do not live in skirtsuit kind of times any more but that change-ensemble in the beginning? Where would you even go to get something like this today? And this is not the "I get it at COS" stuff because even from the grainy video (and having felt so many of these old Jil pieces), the fabric is always incredibly developed. She was so smart to get the guy from Yohji on her team. Also refreshing to see such a focused, clear vision - three, four ideas devolped and pushed into a coherent proposition of clothes. Insane to me. Perfect white shirts! The dots at the end! Even the stockings and the shoes feel right to me (though I'll accept that they are not the most modern). Oh, to have designers designing clothes to be worn, made beautiful, wearable for many many years,...

PS: Funny to see how effortlessly she did what all these young designers are failing terribly at (peter at alaia etc.)

I also have a soft-spot for her comeback in the 10s, though I know it was not very much appreciated at the time. But the Spring 2013 collection to me is so much better than anything Raf came up with before (and I loved his stuff too!)
 

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