Following reports this weekend that Stefano Pilati would show his last collection for YSL this week, to be replaced by Hedi Slimane, comes confirmation from the house that Pilati is indeed, out. YSL released the following statement today:

Yves Saint Laurent today announces the departure of Creative Director Stefano Pilati, who since 2004 has stood at the creative helm of the maison and has been instrumental in the rebuilding and repositioning of an iconic French luxury brand. Under Stefano’s guiding vision and artistic direction, the house has become a contemporary reference in high fashion.

Stefano will show his final collection for Fall/Winter 2012-2013 womenswear on March 5, 2012 in Paris. In the coming weeks, the maison will announce a new Creative Director.

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Before his resort show yesterday (Lauren’s review to come), YSL‘s Stefano Pilati opened up to WWD about the criticism he’s faced, particularly from bloggers.

“My fashion has never tried to be editorially oriented. My research was more subtle, on the edge to the more boring,” he told WWD. He clarified that his clothes aren’t boring, just that they aren’t flashy and are best understood when worn. He also acknowledged that he wasn’t trying to be better than Yves Saint Laurent himself, and he puts the label before himself, never crediting a collection “Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent.”

He addressed his critics head on: “I’m very surprised when criticism comes from a very shallow approach.” He wants his critics to tell him why they think something looks bad, rather than just saying it looks bad. This then turned into a conversation about bloggers.

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It’s that time of year again when spring campaign images start popping up online and in magazines, making everyone feel a bit more miserable about the frigid and slushy weather outside.

Some ads were successful at conveying the label’s message, and others struggled to get a point across. Click though to see whose ads made the grade and whose fell short.

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