In the span of just over four hours yesterday, the morning after Paris Fashion Week wrapped, Celine announced that Hedi Slimane was exiting after seven years at the LVMH-owned label and that Michael Rider, the former creative director at Polo Ralph Lauren who worked at Celine under Phoebe Philo, was replacing him. Change in the creative leadership at Celine was one of the main topics of speculation during the Paris shows, and it only escalated over the weekend when Slimane dropped a surprise Celine collection that looked very much Chanel in spirit—Chanel, of course, being another brand in the midst of a leadership change and a job coveted by just about everybody in fashion. But this is Rider’s moment. If he’s not that well known in the industry, that changes now. In a statement he said, “Celine is a maison with values very close to my heart and a beautiful heritage to build on.” He starts in early 2025. |
