Pieter Mulier is departing Alaïa.
Before he took the reins in 2021, the Belgian designer worked closely with Raf Simons at Dior, Jil Sander, and Calvin Klein. Mulier was named the first creative director after Azzedine Alaïa died in 2017. (He has gotten the stamp of approval from the late designer’s nearest and dearest; at the 2025 CFDA Awards, Alaïa’s muse, Naomi Campbell, presented Mulier with the International Award.)
Mulier’s Alaïa—known for its futurism, sensuality, and sculptural designs—became a favorite among fashion-forward celebrities. Zendaya was among the first to embrace the designer, wearing a plum-toned, ab-baring two-piece with a furry mermaid skirt from Mulier’s debut collection to the Paris photocall for Dune. Kaia Gerber was also an early supporter, donning a sexy body-con turtleneck dress with a burgundy gathered skirt for the 2022 Academy Gala.
But there may be no bigger fan than Rihanna, who has chosen Mulier to dress her for moments big and small. When she returned to the stage for the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show, she chose a cherry red Alaïa jumpsuit with a shiny breastplate. He has helped to define her maternity style, from the aqua cutout-riddled dress she wore to the Highest 2 Lowest premiere at Cannes, to her hip-padded skirt and hooded crop top for an outing to Giorgio Baldi.
Here, revisit the best celebrity moments of Pieter Mulier and his tenure at Alaïa.