Fashion superstar Hedi Slimane to take over at Céline
The Sultan of skinny will create men’s and women’s collections for the luxury brand
Hedi Slimane, the designer who pioneered the skinny look at Dior and Saint Laurent, is to take over at Céline, the brand’s owners said yesterday.
The 49-year-old French-born creator is one of fashion’s biggest and most enigmatic names, and there has been speculation over his future since he walked away from Saint Laurent last year.
The luxury giant LVMH, which owns Céline, has given Slimane complete control of the brand’s images and creative side to sign him up – a concession which put him alongside Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld as one of the most powerful designers in fashion.
They are also letting him create a menswear line at the label, which has previously only made clothes for women.
Bernard Arnault, the owner of LVMH, said: “He is one of the most talented designers of our time. Hedi will oversee and develop all creativity for both women’s and men’s fashion, but also for leather goods, accessories and fragrances.”
Slimane fell out with Saint Laurent reportedly because of his frustration at not being able to control its perfume and cosmetics arms.
Slimane’s skinny and rock star chic looks made millions for Dior and Saint Laurent, and were much copied by mass-market brands.
Lagerfeld, who famously shed 41kg (90 pounds) in order to squeeze into Slimane’s skinny jeans, was the first to cheer the news of his move. “I am enchanted, what a great choice,” he told Women’s Wear Daily. “It will be great.”
Friend of the stars
Like Lagerfeld, Slimane is a renowned photographer, and he has spent the past seven years living in Los Angeles, where he had moved his studio at the end of his reign at Saint Laurent.
The designer drew much of his inspiration from the LA rock scene, which he tirelessly documented with his photographs and in his blog.