Chloé Confirms Creative Director Clare Waight Keller’s Departure
Chloé Confirms Creative Director Clare Waight Keller’s Departure
Chloé has confirmed that creative director Clare Waight Keller will be exiting the French fashion house. Her departure will commence on March 31, following the brand’s autumn/winter 2017 show at Paris Fashion Week. Waight Keller previously worked at Pringle, Gucci and Calvin Kelin before joining Chloe in May 2011. She took over from Hannah MacGibbon and has since served six years with the brand.
“Clare has been a remarkable partner at Chloé over the past six years,” said Chloé’s president, Geoffrey De La Bourdonnaye, on her departure. “She has helped to rejuvenate the legacy of Gaby Aghion, the first ever Chloé girl, by infusing a cool and easy breeze into the Chloé wardrobe, effortlessly mixing graceful and feminine flour with a free-wheeling and boyish take on tailoring. Clare has a unique talent in directing a large studio of strong creatives. I would like to personally thank Clare for her loyalty and dedication to Chloé.”
Waight Keller’s departure has been the subject of rumours for a number of weeks, following her decision to move her family back to London last year. Her exit is believed to be a mutual decision between both the creative director and her management. Rumours have also been circulating as to the identity of her successor with Natacha Ramsay Levi being named as the expected choice. Levi, who is currently womenswear designer at Louis Vuitton, is anticipated to be officially announced as Chloé’s new creative director soon although the brand has not commented on such suggestions.
Upon her departure Waight Keller said, “After six extraordinary years at Chloé I would like to thank Geoffrey and all my colleagues for their enormous efforts over the past years. Working for this maison has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Chloé is a brand with values close to my heart and I have truly enjoyed working with some of the best talents in the industry. I feel privileged to have worked for a maison with such a heritage and I am very proud of all that has been achieved.
Waight Keller summed up her first collection for Chloé in October 2011 with “Fluidity and femininity, but boyish”. This is a look has remained unswervingly constant during her tenure. It will be interesting to see where new creative direction will take the fashion house and whether this description will maintain accuracy in future collections.
Chloé Confirms Creative Director Clare Waight Keller’s Departure
