Raf Simons Is Not Taking YSL From Stefano Pilati

Raf Simons, whose spring collection for Jil Sander won him rave reviews and sparked rumors that he would be taking over Yves Saint Laurent, is not going anywhere. "Yves Saint Laurent disclaims and regards as unfounded the current rumors concerning the creative direction of the house," reps for the brand said in a statement. "Stefano Pilati continues to dedicate his talent and energies to Yves Saint Laurent and the coming fashion show."

The rumor mill started turning when New York Times reporter Suzy Menkes glowingly reviewed Simons' Jil Sander collection and added an aside that quickly gained traction. “If Raf Simons ultimately takes over the helm at Yves Saint Laurent — as those familiar with the situation in Paris suggest — the designer will have found a sweet spot for his meticulous modernism," Menkes wrote.

That big "if" turned into a "when" in many readers' minds, though not entirely irrationally, since talk of current YSL creative head Pilati vacating his position there had been circulating since last winter. In February a tweet from Kenzo insinuated that Pilati, who is allegedly difficult to work with, would be headed out, Fashionista reports.