Hedi Slimane, the reigning king of skinny jeans and moody lighting, has decided to step off the Celine runway (probably in some killer boots) and into the mysterious abyss of fashion’s “Where are they now?” files. On Wednesday (October 2), the 56-year-old announced his exit, sparking a wave of dramatic gasps and hastily fired-off texts in the fashion world.
But don’t worry! Fashion waits for no man, and Celine has already lined up Hedi’s replacement: none other than Michael Rider, straight outta Polo Ralph Lauren. Yes, you read that right. The land of polo shirts, preppy sweaters, and boat shoes has handed over one of its own to the chic Parisian streets of Celine. Who knew? Maybe we’ll see the models rocking riding boots with their couture next season.
Now, Hedi didn’t just walk into Celine’s hallowed halls yesterday. He strutted in back in February 2018, taking over from Phoebe Philo, the queen of minimalist chic, who spent a decade at the helm making oversized coats and practical handbags look effortlessly cool. Hedi, being Hedi, added his own touch of brooding rock star vibes. Think less “afternoon tea in Paris” and more “late-night underground concert.”
As of now, Hedi hasn’t spilled the tea on where he’s off to next. Could it be another couture house? Perhaps he’ll start a new line of avant-garde gardening tools. Who knows? The fashion world waits with bated breath, and probably a few too many espressos.
Meanwhile, Michael is stepping into his new role with the enthusiasm of a kid on their first day of school (albeit a very fashionable school where everyone’s carrying $2,000 bags). He’s no stranger to Celine, though—he used to work under Phoebe Philo as the design director, so it’s a bit like coming home. “Celine is a maison with values close to my heart,” Michael said, no doubt clutching a silk scarf and gazing wistfully out a window, “and a beautiful heritage to build on.” Oh, the drama!
Celine, of course, wasted no time sending out a press release with the kind of poetic praise usually reserved for Shakespearean sonnets. They credited Hedi for turning Celine into a Très Très Important fashion house while also giving us couture, haute parfumerie, and probably a few runway moments we’re still trying to understand. They even mentioned his contribution to “men’s silhouettes,” which in Hedi’s world means making sure no one leaves the house without their shirt tucked in just right.
Before Celine, Hedi had a stint at Saint Laurent where he made skinny jeans a cultural phenomenon, and before that, he was dressing Dior Homme like they were going to the coolest, most exclusive party in town. His final collection for Celine, the spring/summer 2025, was his last curtain call, while Michael will have the honor of presenting the autumn/winter 2025 collection next February. We’ll be counting down the days.
