Hedi Slimane named YSL creative director

Storied French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent is making headlines with its appointment of menswear design whiz Hedi Slimane as its new creative director. The position comes a dozen years after Slimane exited YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme to make waves at Dior Homme, where he garnered a cult following for his skinny-cut suits and pale, waifish male models.

According to WWD, Slimane is to assume "total creative responsibility for the brand image and all its collections."

Interestingly, this is Slimane's first foray into womans-wear, despite having dressed the occasional female celebrity in the past, such as Nicole Kidman and Madonna.

Slimane, 43, has been absent from fashion design since leaving Dior Homme in 2007 and has been pursuing a successful career as a photographer, something he plans to continue while at YSL, according to WWD.

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