They said/We said: Raf Simons may or may not replace Stefano Pilati at YSL, but the hints are making fashion reporters and bloggers crazy in the meantime

After a few lackluster seasons and being reportedly difficult to work with, it’s been rumoured that Stefano Pilati will be out at Yves St Laurent once his contract is up in March 2012. The fashion world is dying to know who his replacement will be. According to the New York Times’ Suzy Menkes, who suggested the move in her review of Sander’s Spring 2012 collection, Raf Simons will be YSL’s new head designer.

Menkes’ comments on Simons replacing Pilati sent the blogosphere and Twitterverse into a frenzy with even her colleague Jessica Michault tweeting that Menkes broke the news. Both YSL and Jil Sander have denied rumours. YSL told WWD that “Stefano Pilati continues to dedicate his talent and energies to Yves Saint Laurent and the coming fashion show.”  On Sander’s end, it’s being reported that Simons has signed on to do four more seasons for the label.

While it doesn’t look like Pilanti is going anywhere in the next week or so, it isn’t confirmed that he’s renewed his contract with YSL. We’re hoping for some fresh blood at YSL sometime in the near future, even if it isn’t Simons, although we have our fingers crossed that it will be.

THEY SAID…

Suzy Menkes: “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.” [New York Times]

Fashionista: “But even if there are no designer switcheroos in motion right now, it seems unlikely that Suzy Menkes would make that sort of implication unfounded in the New York Times…” [Fashionista]

The Cut: “Menkes is less likely to print something at the top of a review that she didn’t feel pretty certain about than the leagues of people with fashion blogs and Twitter feeds who aren’t the International Herald Tribune and who don’t really have to be right about anything.” [NY Mag]

WE SAID…

Bernadette Morra, editor-in-chief: “The fact that Suzy leads her story with the suggestion, from unnamed sources, that Raf Simons is going to YSL sounds to me like she has the scoop on the story, but she has been asked not to run with it yet. For whatever reason, she clearly felt comfortable hinting at what might be unfolding in days to come. It’s a bold and fascinating move… Pure Suzy!”

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