Hedi Slimane Heads To YSL!

Looks like the creative talent that is Hedi Slimane is moving to YSL with a big announcement that is expected to take place tomorrow finally ending the speculation of rumors of what fashion house he would be taking over. As the new creative director of Yves Saint Laurent that means Stefano Pilati will be on the outs after a decade long stay at the French fashion house.

Hedi Slimane is as good as confirmed as the new creative director of Yves Saint Laurent. Stefano Pilati, YSL’s creative director for the past eight years, showed his final collection for the French fashion house yesterday evening and today, the International Herald Tribune‘s Suzy Menkes says the company will make an announcement tomorrow declaring that Slimane is next in line.

This was expected–when news broke of Pilati’s departure from YSL, the company said they would announce a new creative director in coming weeks and industry insiders said that Slimane was a likely, almost definite choice to replace him. And while we’ve grown more skeptical of the little creative director rumors Menkes likes to slip into her show reviews, we’re inclined to believe this one. She dedicates an entire post to the news, writing:

Hedi Slimane will be named on Wednesday as the new creative director at Yves Saint Laurent, according to a senior executive at YSL’s parent company, PPR, who has followed Mr. Slimane’s career in the world of artistic photography.
The executive would not be named until after the announcement because of the sensitivity of the subject.

So, there you have it. The Associated Press adds that YSL chief Paul Deneve confirmed this news to YSL employees in a meeting today and offers further confirmation that an official announcement will be made tomorrow.

This will mark a return to YSL (and fashion design) for Slimane, who designed menswear for the house from 1996-2000. He then designed for Dior Homme and in 2007 quit designing to pursue photography. -fashionista.com

Hedi Slimane Fashion Designer Profile by 5minFashion