Quelle surprise! Dior gains Peter Philips, Chanel’s former makeup director

Beauty editors’ polished mouths dropped to the floor this morning with the announcement of Dior’s new creative and image director. The reason behind this beauty world startle? It’s Peter Philips, the former creative director for Chanel cosmetics. From 2008 to 2013, Philips was responsible for some of the French powerhouse’s major beauty product innovations, including launching now-iconic nail polish shades (Particulière, Jade and Mimosa, to name a few) as well as Rouge Coco Hydrating Crème Lip Colour. And how can we forget the beauty feats he pulled off for Chanel’s runway shows? For Spring 2009, he tattooed models with pearls, chains and blossoms. In Fall 2012 he made us all reconsider our eyebrows with the debut of custom Chanel bejeweled brows, and the following year we were ready to break out the glitter after he lined the models’ eyes with elegant sequins.

Now Dior has Philips’ artistic mind at their disposal, appointing him as their new creative and image director, effective immediately. Philips will preside over the fashion house’s makeup image—which very well could include leading the charge backstage. “I am honoured by the responsibilities that are entrusted to me by Christian Dior makeup, whose values, savoir-faire and innovation I respect,” he said in an official statement released by Dior.

While we anxiously await what Philips has planned for Dior, we’re certainly curious as to what this move means for Pat McGrath. As lead backstage makeup artist for several world-class designers, such as Prada and Louis Vuitton, she’s also the makeup genius behind some of Dior’s signature runway looks —rhinestone pout, anyone? Could this be the end of her reign backstage at Dior? The beauty world will just have to wait for the answer, as no details have been confirmed yet.

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