Raf Simons To Take Over At Yves Saint Laurent

[bill]

09/26/11 edit: sorry guys. fake rumor.

Raf Simons To Take Over At Yves Saint Laurent

PARIS, France — We usually leave ‘breaking news’ stories to the wire services and Twitter, and don’t like to propagate unsubstantiated rumours, but sometimes the news is so big, and the source of the rumour is so credible, that it warrants immediate comment and analysis from BoF.

In her rapturous review of Raf Simons’ Spring/Summer 2012 collection for Jil Sander, the highly-respected fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, Suzy Menkes, dropped the bombshell news that unnamed sources in Paris say that Raf Simons will replace Stefano Pilati as Creative Director of storied couture house, Yves Saint Laurent. When Menkes’ IHT colleague Jessica Michault announced the news on Twitter, the fashion Twittersphere was sent into overdrive.

Menkes seems supportive of the supposed move, saying that “if Raf Simons ultimately takes over the helm at Yves Saint Laurent — as those familiar with the situation in Paris suggest — the designer will have found a sweet spot for his meticulous modernism.”

But there was no mention of the timing of the supposed transition, and while Ms. Menkes’ sources are amongst the best in the industry and her reporting is of the highest integrity, the news is yet to be officially confirmed by any of the parties concerned, so this news must still be treated as conjecture.

That said, Mr. Pilati’s future at YSL is said to have been rocky for several seasons now. He has been regularly dogged by rumours that other designers were set to replace him. Only last season, a casual tweet from Kenzo’s Twitter account spawned rumours that Hedi Slimane would replace Pilati, rumours that were only snuffed out when YSL’s official Twitter account wrote: “From YSL HQ in Paris… Pilati busy working on the next collection. All the rumors unfounded – he is here to stay.”

There is more reason to believe the rumours are true this time around. Up until now, there has been no such Twitter rebuttal from YSL. And, Ms. Menkes’ news was published in the International Herald Tribune and on The New York Times website, organisations which operate under strict journalistic codes. While still not a 100 percent guarantee, this holds much more weight in our books than a rogue tweet from a competing brand.

As for Mr. Simons, Ms. Menkes says he couldn’t be reached for comment. But, speaking to Tim Blanks for his review on Style.com, Mr. Simons did say that his Spring/Summer 2012 collection “is the last in his couture trilogy” for Jil Sander, leaving Mr. Blanks to postulate about Mr. Simons’ next chapter for the brand.

Will there really be another Raf Simons collection for Jil Sander? Or, could YSL Couture be next? Watch this space.

[bill]

Raf Simons, the man who ruined menswear and womenswear for three labels?

vero branquinho @ jil?

berny willhelm @ raf?

he dun fucking up jil?

will he leave his label?

will hedi start working at raf?

should i sell my raf jawnz now or wait and profit later?

so many questions

[alexsade]

Am i the only one who still love raf here?

[Desi]

my mind is exploding.

[poopsmurf]

So many bloody questions. WTF?

[jdemotion]

I honestly don't pay all that much attention to all this designer / house drama... but I feel that YSL has been saying they want to replace Pilati for years and I don't really understand it. Sure YSL isn't the hottest name going but I feel his designs fit the house pretty spot on. Either way I feel like Raf's designs have gotten boring (not minimalist, boring) and I agree with Will I don't think all the hype is founded.

What everyone should really be working on is getting Hedi back, and someone find Helmut Lang in his mountain artist farm or wherever the fuck he is and get him back.

[robgotsastaplerr]

just gonna drop this here:

http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/ysl-calls-raf-simons-rumor-unfounded-5223127

[lawless]

I honestly don't pay all that much attention to all this designer / house drama... but I feel that YSL has been saying they want to replace Pilati for years and I don't really understand it. Sure YSL isn't the hottest name going but I feel his designs fit the house pretty spot on. Either way I feel like Raf's designs have gotten boring (not minimalist, boring) and I agree with Will I don't think all the hype is founded.

What everyone should really be working on is getting Hedi back, and someone find Helmut Lang in his mountain artist farm or wherever the fuck he is and get him back.

Pilati isn't making any money for PPR. The brand's lost so much market share it's not even funny anymore. It's just business.

and i beleive Silmane's been planning a comeback. there was an article published a few months ago that suggested that he'd comeback under his own label.

[bill]

the rumor is fake.

kanye probably started it.

[jdemotion]

haha... wouldn't suprise me at all if it was kanye.

lawless I agree that Stefano hasn't exactly been a cash cow for YSL... I just think it's crazy that almost every six months I hear of another designer who will supposedly take over his position there. Unfortunately the rumors of Slimane starting up his own label have been around since he left Dior in 07, I'm not holding my breath. I've read that he's not opposed to designing again, but he's a fucking good photographer with an incredible client list... he seems to be pretty happy with that at the moment. Fingers crossed for some baller to back the cash for him to eventually start designing again soon.

[lawless]

haha... wouldn't suprise me at all if it was kanye.

lawless I agree that Stefano hasn't exactly been a cash cow for YSL... I just think it's crazy that almost every six months I hear of another designer who will supposedly take over his position there. Unfortunately the rumors of Slimane starting up his own label have been around since he left Dior in 07, I'm not holding my breath. I've read that he's not opposed to designing again, but he's a fucking good photographer with an incredible client list... he seems to be pretty happy with that at the moment. Fingers crossed for some baller to back the cash for him to eventually start designing again soon.

well those rumors should've pushed pilati but season after season he's been average while the burberry's and prada's of the world are moving. I mean Henri Pinault seems to be bout his business so i honestly don't think pilati's contract will be renewed after this year. i don't think raf will take his position. but i know ysl needs someone of tisci or ghesquiere's energy to revive it.