Raf Simons Leaving Christian Dior; Maria Chiuri Rumored In

[Creative]

So disappointing, Dior homme has been so lackluster for the past ten years since kva took over and now this.
Sometimes I feel the reason for kva's longevity at the house is somewhat due to his willingness to be cooperative with the execs, i.e. Not having a total 'say' and such. Saunders give me such a vibe, hope I am wrong.

A friend of mine said the exact same thing. I also think it might be one of the reasons why they hired him. They can do with him whatever they want, it's like Jonathan will be the 'translator' of the CEOs instead of a designer with his own voice. He will give numbers the shape of dresses.

But I don't think it will work. First comes 'fashion' and hype (good or bad) and then, the sales. Playing it safe isn't a winning formula.

I still can't believe it. It's so weird to see Arnault hiring such an average designer for his beloved Dior. So, so, so weird.

 

[george5]

I think Jonathan was the only candidate left they had. I mean, I don't know if they called someone else but Theyskens doesn't seem very interested in Fashion, Alber supposedly is going to launch his own Fashion house and McQueen is a safe place for Sarah so They had to take anyone who was free for that position.

To be honest I feel a bit disappointed, I was hoping to see Dior as an influential power-house again but I'll wait to see what Jonathan has to offer

 

[Creative]

Now that it is confirmed we can open a new thread, no?

 

[Creative]

Jonathan Saunders in at Dior

BREAKING: JONATHAN SAUNDERS APPOINTED CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT DIOR

The acclaimed Scottish designer recently went out of business, only to replace Raf Simons at Dior a few months later. According to French Elle, Jonathan Saunders has been nominated to replace Raf Simons at Dior, one of Paris’ most prominent couture and luxury houses. This has been revealed after a period of speculation, and following a streak of resignations among the industry’s creative directors. This included Saunders, who announced in December that he would be closing his eponymous label for “personal reasons”.

Saunders is one of Britain’s brightest shining stars, heralded for his advanced appreciation for textile and innovation. Born in Glasgow, he studied Printed Textiles at Glasgow School of Art before relocating to London to complete an MA with distinction from Central St Martins in London. His graduate collection immediately won him the Lancôme Colour Award, and after 48 hours he had been commissioned by Alexander McQueen to do a series of prints. He set up his brand in 2003, while simultaneously functioning as creative director for Italian house Pollini for several years – and has been a stable name in the London scene for over a decade.

Now, Saunders will be making a well-deserved comeback: he plans to show his first Dior capsule collection in London, instead of the usual Paris showcase, which will undoubtedly stir some controversy for the old Parisian Maison. We look forward seeing what Saunders has to offer!

http://www.danskmagazine.com/

Jonathan Saunders nouveau directeur créatif de Dior

La rumeur enflait depuis l'automne, quand le créateur écossais a fermé sa Maison. Il vient d'être officiellement nommé directeur créatif chez Dior

http://www.elle.be/fr

Google translator:

Jonathan Saunders new creative director of Dior

The rumor swelled since the fall, when the Scottish designer closed her house . It has been officially named creative director at Dior

 

[Scotty]

Terrifying.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Whoa, so its offical!! Yay, good luck to him, wish him all the best! It sure won't be easy, but he has talent, and i hope he makes it work!

 

[Wolkfolk]

He better not bring Katie Grand with him !!!
This is very very weird coming from LVMH. Not that Saunders is a bad designers, I still really love his early collections but his last ones were completely stale. Does he really have a vision to helm the juggernaut that is Dior...

He's showing his first collection in London ?!? Why ? Because he's afraid of the French press if he messes things up ? I hope they're talking about the Cruise collection and not RTW or even Couture.

 

[Street_a_Licious]

'controversy' lol. everyone is showing their Cruise collections outside of Paris.

 

[Wolkfolk]

Yes I know ^^
And I know that Dior is showing the Cruise colelction at Blenheim Palace which is a very good idea, I love this place. Yet from the way the article is written we don't know if Cruise will be his first collection or if they're talking about RTW. But since they're talking about a "capsule" collection it must be Cruise.

 

[Creative]

He better not bring Katie Grand with him !!!
This is very very weird coming from LVMH. Not that Saunders is a bad designers, I still really love his early collections but his last ones were completely stale. Does he really have a vision to helm the juggernaut that is Dior...

He's showing his first collection in London ?!? Why ? Because he's afraid of the French press if he messes things up ? I hope they're talking about the Cruise collection and not RTW or even Couture.

The article says "capsule". I think it has to be the resort. Considering Dior has to do six collections a year, I doubt they will do another one.

I've been looking through Saunders archives and I honestly don't know what he can offer at such a big house.

To me this is the weirdest appointment ever. Even Lindsey at Ungaro made more sense to me. It was a dead house and it was a desperate attempt. But this?

 

[perhydrol]

I think it's a good decision, Dior needs something unexpected and fresh. They tried to do that with Raf, they went into that more minimal direction and I believe that Saunders will be even more radical than Raf in a way. His voice may be not the strongest in the industry, but on the other hand his collections are always very graphic to me.

I'm just excited about it.

 

[Marc10]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Until we get news from a reliable source (WWD, BoF, etc) or an official confirmation from Dior itself, please keep the rumor discussions in this thread. Thank you.

 

[Jungla_Juana]

Who ???

 

[Inlimbo]

MAH not a fan at all. His collection were always boring and bland. Let's hope...

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Can a leopard change its spots?

 

[Creative]

What sort of upsets me is the secrecy and obscurity with which LVMH manages all these things. Kering, Richemont and Puig are always much more natural about it.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this was closed way before November. How on Earth would he close his brand with no contract at all? It would be crazy.

Also, starting by a resort isn't 'grand' at all. But I guess that's their new route.

It looks like fashion glory days are long gone and we have to deal with it.

 

[Inlimbo]

^ Can a leopard change its spots?

I'm an optimist . I mean, it would have been nice to see Jonathan Saunders for Missoni(or maybe Pucci).
But JS for Dior sounds like his biting off more than he can chew.

 

[Fashionstuff]

What sort of upsets me is the secrecy and obscurity with which LVMH manages all these things. Kering, Richemont and Puig are always much more natural about it.

Anyway, I'm pretty sure this was closed way before November. How on Earth would he close his brand with no contract at all? It would be crazy.

Also, starting by a resort isn't 'grand' at all. But I guess that's their new route.

It looks like fashion glory days are long gone and we have to deal with it.

Make sense.

But till now nobody -not BoF not WWD , not Vogue- and not LVHM by themselfs- announced.

 

[Crying Diamonds]

The article says "capsule". I think it has to be the resort. Considering Dior has to do six collections a year, I doubt they will do another one.

I've been looking through Saunders archives and I honestly don't know what he can offer at such a big house.

To me this is the weirdest appointment ever. Even Lindsey at Ungaro made more sense to me. It was a dead house and it was a desperate attempt. But this?

You're seriously comparing Jonathan Saunders with Lindsey Lohan..?

Jonathan has always been one of my most anticipated designers of fashion week, and though I agree for the last few years it feels as if he has lost his direction somewhat, his previous collections prove that he has a minimalist's eye [I suppose that's where the Raf comparisons end...] but also for colour and exquisite detail and cut.

I really think a lot of you need to actually know what you're talking about before you post here after deciding to skim through some collections and settle on some pre-conceived opinion, just because it may not be some tulle and bead mess from Sarah Burton.


All pictures from various Jonathan Saunders collections, vogue.com

 

[dcmaike]

I don't know what I should say/think about it. On one hand I'm eased that it's him and not Tisci/rounsteig or someone like that but on the other hand i'm not sure if he is able to create the Glamour Dior is needing. We will have to see and maybe we all will be surprised...