Ever since Phoebe Philo left Céline to focus on her personal life, we’ve been speculating about who will take over at the helm of the brand she worked so hard for a decade. While we’re still sad to see Philo go, LVMH’s choice of Hedi Slimane as the new “Artistic, Creative and Image Director” is no exception.
At just 49 years old, Slimane is one of the most beloved figures in the fashion industry. He transformed the way men dress during his tenure at Dior Homme from 2000 to 2007 and tripled Saint Laurent’s profits in less than four years. He’s endeared to everyone in the industry; LVMH’s decision to not only appoint him to Céline but also allow him to relocate the classic French brand’s headquarters to California is proof of that. Céline has also announced plans to expand into fragrance, couture, and menswear.
If recent changes are any indication, we’ll soon be seeing Céline everywhere. Philo and Slimane have always had very different interpretations of femininity, so it will be interesting to see what new direction the creative director will take the brand in. Hedi, we missed you. Welcome back.