Last Monday at 7 o�clock pm Paris time, it was announced that the position left open after John Galliano abruptly and scandalously left Dior is no longer available. Belgian designer and former creative director of Jil Sander, Raf Simons, has accepted the position of artistic director for the house. Since the infancy of Simon�s career in 1995, he has proven himself with his insightful, meticulous, and architectural design sense and Dior believes that, in him, they will find the appropriate glamour for the house.

In an article on the Dior website, the house stresses a parallel between the houses founding couturier, Christian Dior, and Simons. Dior, the inceptor of the infamous �New Look,� has found a fan in Simons who has communicated a particular interest in the area of fashion history between 1947 and 1957. The period of time which perpetuated the, �New Look.� The �New Look� being the ubiquitous excessive silhouette of small waist and full skirt for which the house became renowned, it is right that Simons should use it as a touchstone. The similarity also exists in both designers� intense passion for art and the fact that both designers were self-educated.

Raf Simon�s appointment comes on the heels of his resplendent final collection for Jil Sander, dubbed by Style.com as �the best collection he�d presented for the label,� as well as his poignant departure from the brand.�Simons will do well for Dior. He has more than proved his capability for exquisite design at Jil Sander, however the aesthetics of the two houses are quite different and designing for Dior will pose quite a challenge. Simons asserts that he is up to the undertaking, declaring in a press release: “I am delighted to join this great house. For me, Christian Dior has always been the greatest of all couturiers. The house of Dior is the symbol of absolute elegance. I have a profound respect for its unique know-how. I am fully aware of the honour and responsibility that are entrusted to me today as director of creation for the world’s most famous French brand.”�Simon�s debut Dior collection will occur at the haute couture fall collection shows in Paris in July.