Jeremy Scott, the designer who has been the artistic director of Moschino for 10 years, has announced his departure from the Italian fashion house. Moschino’s parent company confirmed the news in a statement, saying that it marks the end of an era for the brand. Scott has infused Moschino with his energetic spirit and sense of humor, creating playful and colorful collections that celebrate consumerism in a visually stunning way. His designs have been worn by many celebrities, and he has dressed some of the biggest stars in his cheeky, whimsical designs. Some of his most memorable red carpet moments include Katy Perry’s Super Bowl halftime performance, where she wore four different Moschino looks, and her chandelier dress at the 2019 Met Gala.
Scott has been credited with injecting a kind of ironic postmodern pop humor into clothes, catapulting Moschino to new relevance. His work has resonated with a generation reared on social media, and he was tapped to redesign the “Moonman” statuette given to winners at MTV’s Video Music Awards in 2015. Scott’s work has been appreciated not only by celebrities but also by fashion enthusiasts who adore his playful yet sophisticated designs.
Scott was only the third designer to lead Moschino after Franco Moschino and Rosella Jardini. After Moschino’s death in 1994 from complications of AIDS, Jardini carried on the legacy until Scott arrived in 2013 with his own sense of subversive humor. Almost immediately, his way with a fashion pun resonated with a generation reared on social media. Mr. Scott sent riffs on McDonald’s and Barbie down the runway, made Le Smokings that were literally smoking in a nod to the Bonfire of the Vanities, and last September created an entire ode to inflatables because—well, you know, inflation (and who can’t use a life raft now and again?).
Scott’s departure from Moschino will further reshape the Italian fashion world, coming just months after the departure of Alessandro Michele from Gucci. Scott’s ability to inject a kind of ironic postmodern pop humor into clothes has helped Moschino to regain relevance, and his departure marks the end of an era for the brand.
While no successor has been named, Massimo Ferretti, the chairman of Aeffe, the group that owns Moschino, has thanked Scott for “ushering in a distinct and joyful vision that will forever be a part of Moschino history.” It remains to be seen who will fill Scott’s shoes and bring their own unique vision to the brand.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Scott presented a collection in 2020 worn by marionettes crafted in Jim Henson’s studio. He populated the show’s pseudo front row with puppet versions of fashion editors like Anna Wintour and Edward Enninful, inviting watchers to ponder the question of who in fashion really pulls the strings. His dress inspired by game-show kitsch, which featured an entire TV dinner on its train, played a starring role in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s 2019 Costume Institute exhibition, “Camp: Notes on Fashion.”
Scott’s departure marks a significant moment in the fashion industry and for Moschino, as it marks the end of an era for the brand. It will be exciting to see who will step in and take over the reins, bringing their own unique vision to the brand. Scott’s legacy, however, will forever be a part of Moschino history, and his playful yet sophisticated designs will continue to be appreciated by fashion enthusiasts around the world.
