Raf Simons Replaces Galliano As Dior's Chief Designer

Raf Simons has been announced as the new chief designer at fashion house Dior. New York Times broke the news yesterday (April 9, 2012) that Simons is taking over the position from John Galliano. Galliano left the post in March last year, in what the Times describe as a "dramatic departure."

Simons - formerly the creative head of Jil Sander, told the newspaper "I feel fantastic. It's one of the ultimate challenges, and a dream to go to a place like Dior, which stands for absolute elegance, incredible femininity and utter luxury." Now aged 44, Raf began his career in the world of men's fashion and later went on to work wonders in both men's and ladies' fashion at Jil Sander. Now, Bernard Arnault, the chairman and chief executive of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has selected Raf to modernize the house of Dior, hoping that he will propel the classic brand into the 21st century. Simons is expected to be in charge of Dior's haute couture range, as well as the women's ready-to-wear lines and accessories range. He will also keep his own eponymous range of menswear.

John Galliano was removed from his post at Dior after making anti-Semitic remarks in a Parisian bar last year. According to the New York Times, several designers had steered clear of the post, viewing the post-Galliano role as a "poisoned chalice." Simons told the paper that his aim for the fashion house was to create "a very modern Dior, but at the end of the day, I also look back."