Belgian designer Raf Simons is taking over the reigns as artistic director at Dior. The position has been empty for a little over a year now, after John Galliano was fired for anti-semitic remarks that were caught on video.
I feel fantastic, Simons said. It is 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.
Simon, 44, has been on the fashion scene since 1995 when he launched his career with menswear. He claim to fame was revolutionizing both men and women’s wear lines at Jil Sander.
Calling Simons one of the biggest contemporary talents, a statement from Dior said he will inspire and push into the 21st century the style that Mr. Dior launched with the opening of his house and that has changed, since its first collection, the codes of world elegance.
Simons says he wants to modernize Dior’s style, without losing the brand’s history.
My aim is a very modern Dior, but at the end of the day, I also look back, Simons said. I find that period between 1947 and 1957 extremely attractive, and there was a lot of modernity.
As artistic director, Simons will be in charge of women’s ready-to-wear, women’s accessories and haute couture. His first order of business will be Dior’s couture fashion show in July.
