Dior Successor?

Riccardo Tisci may be the frontrunner to take the helm at Dior, but the designer insists he's content where he is: "I felt this was a strong, positive season. And I'm happy at Givenchy," he said. But one fashion watcher would like to see him move to Dior: "I think Riccardo deserves the [Dior] position," Anna Dello Russo told STYLE.COM. "He's becoming a very mature artist. For me, Givenchy was the best show of the season so far."

Whispers from those in the know in Paris suggest that Riccardo Tisci is already being lined up to replace John Galliano for Christian Dior - and that Haider Ackermann will take over his role at Givenchy.
Alber Elbaz of Lanvin, YSL's Stefano Pilati and Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci and are the favourites to take over from John Galliano at Christian Dior, so the front row whispers go this morning, Balenciaga's Nicolas Ghesquiere and Roland Mouret are also rumoured to be in the running. Christian Dior has not yet confirmed when a new appointment will be made, but nevertheless rumours abound.

Fashion insiders close to the action in Paris suggest that a major fashion reshuffle could be set in to motion in the coming week - and may be sparked by the rumoured appointment of Hedi Slimane and Carine Roitfeld as the new creative team at the helm of YSL. Nothing has been confirmed by the brand, but our sources suggest that - despite YSL protestations to the contrary - Pilati may be replaced.

Other names in the frame for the Christian Dior job include London-based BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Erdem, Michelle Obama favourite Jason Wu, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte and former Hermes creative director -and French fashion's enfant terrible - Jean Paul Gaultier.

The bookies are already taking bets, too. Yves Saint Laurent creative director Stefano Pilati is the current odds leader at 11/8, followed by former Dior Homme helmer Hedi Slimane at 9/4.
Current Dior Homme creative director Kris Van Assche is third at 4/1, with the man previously mooted as Lagerfeld's Chanel successor, Haider Ackermann, fourth at 8/1. Celine creative director Phoebe Philo and Giambattista Valli are shortly behind at 10/1 and 12/1 respectively. With the same odds as Valli, Tom Ford is the next name mentioned at 12/1, whilst Karl Lagerfeld follows him at 16/1. Emilio Pucci's Peter Dundas, Stella McCartney, Alessandra Facchinetti and Frida Giannini all also make the list with odds of between 16 and 20/1.

And then come the more unlikely candidates, according to bookmakers Paddy Power. Outside bets include Christopher Kane - ranked at a respectable 40/1 thanks to his success at Versus - and VOGUE.COM blogger Savannah Miller, currently sitting at 500/1. In case you had some money sitting around you were keen to get rid of, the bookmaker is also offering odds of 500/1 on Peaches Geldof and Lily Allen - and 1000/1 on Katie Price.

Source: Lauren Milligan