The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Fashion & LifestyleNews & Features

Raf Simons fills John Galliano’s shoes at Dior

Raf Simons fills John Galliano’s shoes at Dior
13 April 2012
Siobhan Copland
Avatar
Siobhan Copland
13 April 2012

It has been one of the most highly anticipated announcements the fashion world has been waiting for since John Galliano’s dismissal as artistic director of Dior over a year ago. Speculation has now been put to rest with the news that Raf Simons is to step into Galliano’s shoes as the new artistic director for the label. Raf left his post as artistic director for Jil Sander in February, to get ready for his debut collection for Dior during couture week in July. 

Simons was born in Belgium and started off his career as a furniture designer, only to leap into menswear with his own label in 1995. He was then appointed creative director of Jil Sander in 2005, a post he obtained before meeting the original founder who left in 2004 and who is set to return, following his departure. Aside from his work on his own label and that with Sander, Simons has an ongoing collaboration with Fred Perry that started with a seasonal special edition collection in 2008.

Describing himself as a romantic, we can expect to see femininity, glamour and sophistication in his womenswear designs, although some would describe him as somewhat of a minimalist. He added the watchword of his time at Jil Sander was “purism”. His main inspiration at Dior will be “femininity… because it’s beautiful, endless and permanent”.

His inspiration comes from a time when women’s fashion was, perhaps, at its most feminine during the 20th century when fashion embraced womanly curves and expressed glamour. Referring to this period he says: “I find that period between 1947 and 1957 extremely attractive and there was a lot of modernity. There was the romantic appeal looking back to his mother and the belle époque, but there was also a constant evolution in shape, changing proportions and the ideas connected to the World War were revolutionary.”

News of his joining the fashion house has been welcomed with a positive response by the fashion world worldwide. He is the sixth courtier to take the position at Dior since its inception 66 years ago.

Siobhan Copland

Related Items

More in Fashion & Lifestyle

Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality

Ezelle Alblas
Read More

15 mistakes newlyweds always make

The editorial unit
Read More

Ways to support Heart Month this February

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

10 romantic dresses for your Valentine’s night in

Sophie Cook
Read More

Five London areas to go for a romantic walk this Valentine’s weekend

Lilly Subbotin
Read More

The best beauty launches to treat yourself to this Valentine’s Day

Alexandra Davis
Read More

Valentine’s Day 2021: Gift guide for her

Rebekah Absalom
Read More

Interior design trends you’ll see everywhere in 2021

Sophie Cook
Read More

Six books perfect for beating the winter blues

Alexandra Davis
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Sorcerer’s Apprentice at Southwark Playhouse Online
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Ninjababy
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Lucky
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Justine
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Jack’s Ride
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • My Favourite War
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Typical at Soho Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Jean Paul Gaultier teams up with Diet Coke
Ring My Bell: Revenge star Ashley Madekwe shares her fashion tips