Galliano who? Its now a Raf Simons, Dior...!!!
The Belgium born designer has just been tapped to take the helm of none other than Christian Dior. After the unceremonious ousting of design legend John Galliano back in March of 2011, Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH) has been in a tizzy over who would oversee the creative direction of the parisian couturier. Who in spit of the Galliano nightmare has seen boutique sales rise by 28% and operating profits double in growth to an astounding $118.4 Million.
Simons who was just recently replaced at Jil Sander by the namesake herself Ms. Jil Sander was said to have been in talks with Dior since winter of last year. While Simons was on a very short list of potential designers to helm the brand, it isn't to say that he was the first choice. The coveted position has been shopped around to the likes of Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Lanvin's Alber Elbaz, Balenciaga's Nicholas Ghesquière and none other than Hedi Slimane who has also just recently been named art director of another Parisian titan Yves Saint Laurent.
Slimane just so happened to be the director of menswear creation at Dior for 7 amazingly trend setting years. Slimane is known as somewhat of a menswear innovator, as is Simons. With both of these designers more modern and minimalist techniques I'm sure the upcoming season for both brands will be on everyone must-see radar. And may we just add how much the pressure is on for both gentlemen, for Dior is long overdue for a stand out collection post Galliano and YSL is planing a retail juggernaut of sort with plans to roll out 15 more storefront locations in this year alone.
While both men have their limitations in which they are keen to stay in, Simons and Dior's Glamor, and Slimane and Laurent's Grandeur. But is the appointment of these masters of minimalism dictating an emerging trend within the fashion world, are we tired of over the top beauty and excess, with Galliano's trashed and Karl Lagerfeld being touted as overrated are the over the top fashion diva's being pushed aside for a more demure and toned down subculture..... We here at ANNEX are sure both men will turn out collections worthy of the iconic brands they now represent.
ATW!xx...