All change at Celine: Hedi Slimane exits, Phoebe Philo-era designer Michael Rider to take reins

Turbulence at the top of the luxury fashion houses continued today as Celine announced the departure of Hedi Slimane, “artistic, creative and image director” of the house since January 2018. It was followed, just over two hours later, by another statement which announced Michael Rider, former creative director of Polo Ralph Lauren, will be the succeeding artistic director.

The news comes after months of industry murmurs about an imminent Slim-exit. Slimane, who made skinny jeans a mainstay of the 2010s, will now head up odds as the next possible creative director at Chanel, which has been leaderless since Virginie Viard left the position in June. It’s a $20 billion question which has the industry in hysterics.