Phoebe Philo leaves Celine

After months of rumors it's now official: Designer Phoebe Philo is leaving French fashion house Celine.

Today, the LVMH owned fashion house officially confirmed her departure. Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH, responded in a statement published on WWD. 'Phoebe has written a key chapter in Celine's story for the last ten years. We are very grateful to her for contributing to the great development of this house (Celine),' he said.

Philo who will leave the high-end ready-to-wear brand in January, thanked her team for the past ten years, saying what an "extraordinary experience" it was working at Celine. Arnault, who also cited these ten years as a "key moment in Celine's history", mentioned that a "new era of development for Celine" will now begin.

Philo who joined Celine in 2007, was tasked with revamping Celine. She achieved great successes with her minimalist designs and sense of quality. The British designer shaped a completely new style that did not exist before. A new feminine feminism, a new approach to silhouettes and body shapes. Famous for wanting to focus on her family, Philo will not be joining another firm in the immediate future and will be taking a break.

As to who will be her successor, nothing has been determined, but will be announced in the next few months, according to LVMH boss Arnault. There have been rumors of big contenders such as Stella McCartney's design director Natasa Cagalj, Celine's design director Michael Rider and Victoria Beckham's design director, Ilaria Icardo. Regardless, whoever gets there will follow in big footsteps.

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