FASHION Magazine

He said he was leaving Milan forever, but he never said anything about Paris. Yes, the longest-running game of Guess Who? the fashion world has ever seen is finally over. And cue the welcome party, because we couldn’t be happier.

Cathy Horyn broke the news today that Raf Simons will be taking over (effective immediately) as artistic director at Dior. His first collection with the house will be for the haute couture shows in July—somewhat fitting considering the colour-loving minimalist took a decidedly haute hand to his recent Jil Sander “Couture Trilogy” (before getting the boot, that is).

The news comes after over a year of headhunting on Dior’s part. The house famously went after Marc Jacobs last year (the two parties couldn’t agree on salary) and reportedly later Lanvin honcho Alber Elbaz (he turned down the offer). Simons’ name started popping up in late December and the rumour mill began churning like nobody’s business.

The juiciest part in all this? Yves Saint Laurent creative director Hedi Slimane has been a longtime menswear rival of Simons’. And now the two get to face off in the womenswear arena. Does this mean Dior versus YSL walk-offs are in our future?

Whether he was their first choice or not, he was most definitely ours. We’re still having dreams about his last Jil Sander collection. Those reds! Those pinks! This really couldn’t have turned out better.

Today’s bag snoop comes via FASHION‘s latest and greatest new addition, features editor Elio Iannacci. Since joining the team last month, he has already broken bread with Sophia Loren, Iris Apfel and Rufus Wainwright, to name a few, and contributed to our overall fabulousness by well, just being himself. From the photos in this gallery, it looks like Elio carries all of his belongings with him to the office every day. Let’s go inside for the full scoop.

Let’s explore »

Everyone wants to know what’s been on Stefano Pilati’s mind since his much-discussed departure from Yves Saint Laurent. The designer, famed for expanding YSL’s now lucrative accessories collection, told the French Institute Alliance Française all about his (somewhat bumpy) time at the house and his relationship with Tom Ford

It’s no secret that Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent’s former partner and business advisor, adores Hedi Slimane. The mogul would famously exclude then-designer Stefano Pilati from YSL parties and invite Slimane in his place. Nevertheless, Bergé thinks Slimane’s got some big shoes to fill (on the scale of a Nobel Prize–winner, no less), telling T Magazine:

“It’s a great problem, very complicated, to recreate the work of a genius. Like trying to rewrite Faulkner. To put your stamp on the name of Yves Saint Laurent requires someone who has talent, conviction, rigor, a demanding nature and a great sense of colour.”

Beauty editor Sarah Daniel shares this month’s picks for hair, skin and fragrance, starting off with some mouthy lip glosses.

See our editor’s beauty picks »

Today we’re going inside the bag belonging to our favourite marketing/public relations/art world gal about town, Amy Burstyn-Fritz. Known for her killer wardrobe (“Oh this? It’s Katrantzou”), and her ability to be the life of the party—even at 10 a.m. (“Are you going to finish that?”), Burstyn is equally awesome on all accounts. Her linen Yves Saint Laurent Muse bag is equally awesome. So without further ado, let’s check it out!

Let’s explore! »

Well, we thought this had already been settled, but now it’s written in stone: Hedi Slimane is officially taking over from Stefano Pilati at Yves Saint Laurent. Cue the applause from skinny pant–wearing ladies and gents everywhere! The designer, who worked at the house in the late ‘90s, has long seemed a natural fit for the brand—perhaps even more natural than Pilati, who’s held the position since 2004 but never quite reached the critical acclaim that both Yves Saint Laurent or Tom Ford did.

He’s one of the most influential hairstylists working today, but Orlando Pita would rather not be in the spotlight. Lesa Hannah manages to pin him down.

If you’re a beauty editor backstage at a fashion show and you want to interview Orlando Pita about the hair, you soon learn the following: If there isn’t a publicist to facilitate a chat, you’ll have to take matters into your own hands and approach him. Once you have him, be quick and to the point. Do not film him without his approval; if you raise your Flip camera unannounced during the interview, he will stop talking. Finally, for the love of God, do not ask how the real woman can recreate the look at home; his frustration with the question will be immediately apparent.

See the collection » “He sure is going out with a bang,” said the retailer sitting next to me, summing up Stefano Pilati’s final collection for Yves Saint Laurent. Black suit after black suit—each one chicer and stricter than the next—opened the show, then life-size calla lilies in purple and green jacquard began appearing from head to […]

The post PFW Diary: Stefano Pilati says au revoir with an almost entirely black final collection at Yves Saint Laurent appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Just three days after the Raf for Jil swap, Yves Saint Laurent has announced that creative director Stefano Pilati will leave the company’s helm following the collection’s Fall show later this week in Paris.

Pilati’s ride at YSL has been a bit of a bumpy one with critically inconsistent collections. But despite a lack of support from YSL heavyweights (Yves Saint-Laurent himself once told WWD, “Some of what he does is good. Some of it is not so good.”), Pilati has rocketed the house towards considerable commercial success (though not quite at Gucci-era Tom Ford levels) with his conception of hit accessories like the Muse bag and Tribute shoe. More than a feat in these financial times, right?

Today, we’re going inside the bag not only belonging to, but designed by one of FASHION’s main men, George Antonopoulos! This stylist-come-designer and all around awesome gent has been responsible for some of our most genius fashion spreads to date, including our recent cover shoot with Andrej Pejic. It’s only natural that we’d want to get reeeeal close.

Let’s explore! »

Editor: Sarah Casselman

Manjy Sidoo’s magnum opus may be motherhood (she has two teenage boys with her hubby David, a former CFL player), but her philanthropic endeavours are a close second. She’s a director at the Sidoo Family Foundation and a board member of the Vancouver Opera (VO), which she joined 10 years ago for the Chanel Gala 2002 fundraiser. Today, she’s a regular participant in VO events (and one of the best-dressed, in her sweeping Oscar de la Renta gowns), such as Purseuasion Designer Bag Auction and Luncheon, and Overture, an onstage dinner she’s co-chairing this year. This intersection of art and fashion inspires her involvement. “Fashion is all around us. It’s hard for me not to have a heightened awareness of my aesthetic surrounding,” she says. “If I see a beautiful dress or antique or piece of art, I have a visceral reaction.”

View Manjy Sidoo’s picks »