The long-awaited Dior debate on who will become the new creative director looks like it may be officially over and the news revealed in the not so distant future. WWD has reported that a deal is being closed in on with designer Raf Simons, whose current post is the head designer for Jil Sander.

Raf Simons may seem like an unusual choice and up until recently Marc Jacobs looked like a strong contender for the job. However, rumours about high salary demands and the wish for Jacobs to take his entire design team at LV with him has apparently caused the deal to break down. If Simons becomes the creative director, he will take over from Bill Gaytten, who is currently standing in place following Galliano’s very public sacking. His duties would include the bi-annual fashion week collections and also the twice yearly haute-couture collections.

Simmons trained as a furniture designer before foraying into menswear in 1995. Landing the top job at Jil Sander kick-started his womenswear design career and since his pieces have been worn by the pick of the A-list including Kate Bosworth, Drew Barrymore and Tilda Swinton. His minimalist and modern silhouettes will make for an interesting post-Galliano Dior revival and we can’t wait to hear an official statement about the future of Dior, after waiting so long!