The ink on the contract is not quite dry but the news is official nonetheless! Phoebe Philo is the new creative director of French fashion house Celine (LVMH). She will join the French fashion brand this coming October with her first collection to be for the Fall/Winter 2009 season. Rumors regarding Philo’s discussions with LVMH had been swirling since March 2008 and intensified this past July. The Central Saint Martins graduate and former creative director of Chloe (Groupe Richemont) shocked the fashion world in 2006 when she left her post as creative director to take time off with her then-infant daughter. Philo was replaced by Paulo Melim Andersson, who was in turn replaced by Hannah MacGibbon in early 2008.

The Celine brand was founded in 1945 by Celine Viplana as a children’s shoe business. The business eventually grew into women’s shoes and accessories in 1963 but it wasn’t until the 1970’s that Viplana introduced a line of women’s “couture sportswear” which she described as “fashion for everyone.” The collection focused on laid back separates such as shirts, trousers and trench coats. The brand continued to evolve and in 1988, Peggy Huyn-Kihn was named creative director. Michael Kors joined the brand in 1997 as designer eventually becoming creative director in 1999. He left in 2003 to concentrate on his own eponymous brand and was replaced by Italian designer Roberto Menichetti. Menichetti left shortly thereafter and was replaced by Croatian-born, Italian-trained Ivana Omazic (Romeo Gigli, Prada, Jil Sander, and Miu Miu). wishes you the very best of luck Ms. Philo - it’s lovely to have you back!