Say hello to the new Dior? What Raf Simons could mean for the ladylike aesthetic of the legendary house | Hollywood yohana
Is Dior eschewing ladylike in favour of bold restraint? After a virtual explosion of excited rumours on Twitter last night, WWD is now reporting that Jil Sander creative director Raf Simons is closing in on a deal to become John Galliano’s replacement at Dior. Known for his brightly hued and minimalist/maximalist designs, Simons might not be the first designer you’d associate with Dior’s aesthetic, but in his recent collections he’s shown an interest in couture techniques— he has even incorporated ball gowns and bridal looks, all of which have garnered rave reviews from critics.
Although Simons was previously known for his menswear—and only began with womenswear when he joined Sander in 2005—this isn’t the first time he’s been approached by a couture house. There were rumours this fall that he was in talks to replace Stefano Pilati at Yves St Laurent—reports which seemed to evaporate. So is Simons ready to make the leap to couture? There’s no doubt this rising star has talent and is more suited to succeed Galliano than past-rumoured names like say, Alexander Wang. If these latest rumours prove true, we’re expecting to see some big (and interesting) changes at Dior. Dior under Simons is sure to promise less extravagance, and with it, less meandering for inspiration—something that Galliano was prone to in the later years of his tenure at Dior. We can bid adieu to the Cleopatras, the Marie Antoinettes, and the Marlene Dietrichs, in favour of a bold new heroine, distinct of the here and now. As to what will happen to Jil Sander? According to reports, Simons is signed on as head designer for the label indefinitely. We hope—surely in vain—that this means he’ll keep both roles, but we imagine one (or more) labels would suffer if sharing his attention.
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