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Francisco Costa Is Out at Calvin Klein

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Francisco Costa takes a bow at Calvin Klein's fall 2016 show. Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images
Francisco Costa takes a bow at Calvin Klein's fall 2016 show. Photo: JP Yim/Getty Images

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While the rumor that Karl Lagerfeld will be exiting Chanel after showing his resort collection remains just that — a rumor — Tuesday also brought some much more concrete news on the designer departures front: Francisco Costa is leaving Calvin Klein.

Costa has been with the brand since 2003, nearly all of which he spent as the creative director of womenswear. And he's not the only longtime designer leaving the company: Italo Zucchelli, Calvin Klein's men's creative director, is out as well.

The changeup comes as part of a broader shift in Calvin Klein's creative structure. "The new brand direction will ultimately follow one creative vision across all categories of the business," the company said in a statement.

It's true that Calvin Klein Collection, the minimalist, high-end line that Costa was responsible for creating, has always been distinct from the rest of its products — especially lately, as the brand's Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner-fronted underwear and denim ads have taken on such a distinct aesthetic and voice, one well aligned with the Ryan McGinley campaign for Calvin Klein's new CK2 fragrance.

There's a lot that needs answering here — including who will be replacing Costa and Zucchelli (Raf?) — and Calvin Klein says that there are further announcements to come. Stay tuned.