Sabato De Sarno

Born near Naples in Cicciano, Sabato De Sarno trained inside Italian luxury — Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, then more than a decade at Valentino where he rose to fashion director overseeing men's and women's collections under Pierpaolo Piccioli. In January 2023 Kering surprised the industry by naming the relatively low-profile De Sarno creative director of Gucci, succeeding Alessandro Michele's maximalist decade. His debut show in September 2023 introduced a stripped-back, sensual silhouette in his signature 'Rosso Ancora' red — wardrobe basics, mini-shorts, loafers — designed for mainstream commercial appeal. Sales disappointed and Gucci announced his departure in February 2025, before his replacement Demna was announced weeks later. De Sarno's two-year Gucci stint became a study in the limits of quiet luxury at scale.