Raf Simons...the Underdog? Not anymore

It's amazing how at the time of the split between Jil Sanders group and Raf Simons more people bet on Jil Sanders remaining a success with Raf Simons perhaps floundering off into oblivion. I would say after Raf Simons successful first Haute Couture show for Christian Dior the windings are blowing in a different direction. The fashion world is as fickle as you can get. Only a few months back there was much speculation and gossip as regards his fate at Jil Sanders. After his first show as creative director at Dior which was very well received, the fashion world cannot get enough of Simons. Jil sanders the founder of Jil sanders group agreed to once again return to the label as creative director. This wouldn’t be the first time the 68-year-old German designer left and then returned to her namesake label. She initially resigned in 2000 because of disputes with Prada’s CEO Patrizio Bertelli after Prada bought a 75% stake in the label, only to return in 2003, produce two successful collections, and resign a second time because of Bertelli. Raf Simons was replacing John Galliano at Dior

Something of a quick study, Simons had no formal training in fashion. He was a student of industrial design at the Antwerp Royal Academy before he launched his men's collection in 1995. Simons has been widely know for his minimalistic styling and architectural lines. Perhaps the stint at Jil Sanders influenced him greatly as regards minimalism while his industrial design training influencing his architectural lines. That said and done his stint at Dior has started with a roaring success as he was able to combine Dior's classic aesthetic with his own.