Marc Jacobs To Dior? New Report Says The Move Is Likely
Sure, the rumor mill has already churned out Marc Jacobs' name for the top job at Christian Dior. But it also had contestants as unlikely as Alexander Wang, Christian Lacriox and Keren Craig of Marchesa thrown into the mix, not to mention the much more likely Riccardo Tisci.
Now, reports Women's Wear Daily, it's time to take the Marc Jacobs speculation seriously.
"According to sources," writes the ever-reliable fashion newspaper, LVMH head Bernard Arnault has been in talks with Jacobs, currently designer for two eponymous lines as well as Louis Vuitton, about filling the top spot at Christian Dior.
The Dior creative director position has sat empty since the dramatic firing of John Galliano in March, who was shamed by a series of drunken, anti-Semitic outbursts.
The question of who will take the top job at Dior has remained since Galliano's ousting. But WWD writes that meetings between Dior representatives from LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns the Christian Dior label as well as Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and a host of other top brands, and Jacobs' legal representatives are set to take place this week in Paris.
Should Jacobs head to Dior, WWD added, he would relinquish his creative director role at Louis Vuitton with designer Phoebe Philo potentially filling the vacancy. Philo is currently creative director of Celine, also a LVMH-owned name.
According to the newspaper, neither Christian Dior nor Marc Jacobs could be reached for comments -- so this is by no means a confirmed report. But news originating from WWD is seen as highly trustworthy within the fashion industry, as opposed to other news sources around the blogosphere.
In July, rumors that Arnault and Jacobs were in talks over the Dior job emerged on Brazilian fashion website Glamurama, which quoted an unnamed source as saying, "The two have met often in recent weeks to discuss the matter."
The bomb spread slowly but steadily throughout the blogosphere in July and August. On August 6, blogger Bryanboy tweeted, "what are all these tweets about marc jacobs for dior? did i miss anything?"
On August 11, a site called Catwalk Queen picked up the rumor, causing sources such as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue UK to speculate as well.
Now WWD gives the gossip some veracity by writing Monday morning, "One source cautioned that a deal with Jacobs is not assured, but that the American designer and Dior management are so far 'excited' about the prospect."
Stay tuned for confirmations from Jacobs or Arnault themselves, without which the rumors will likely remain just that -- rumors.
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The Huffington Post Ellie Krupnick First Posted: 08/22/11 07:35 AM ET Updated: 10/22/11 06:12 AM ET