Frida Giannini has reportedly left her post at Gucci.

The luxury brand's creative director - who announced last year that she was to step down from the role following the Autumn/Winter 2015 catwalk show at Milan Fashion Week in February - is believed to have exited the company earlier than intended without a successor to take her place.

A source revealed: ''The decision [about Giannini's successor] needs to be made, so it can have an impact on the upcoming collections and shows.''

With Frida's departure either completed or imminent, there has been much speculation about who will land the role with her deputy and head accessories designer, Alessandro Michele, favourite to take over the reins.

An insider told WWD: ''[Michele] knows all the inside mechanisms. With a brand such as Gucci, creativity is tied to industrial development. It's a very scientific machine, where marketing has its say.

''It's creative only up to a certain point. Calling in a designer from outside can bring an added touch of allure, but a designer from the inside may work better in the long run.''

Meanwhile, Frida's husband Patrizio di Marco has also quit his role as chief executive officer at Gucci and left the company at the start of the year.