Raf Simons Replaces John Galliano as Dior’s Creative Director [PHOTOS]

The long-standing post of luxury brand, Christian Dior's creative director has finally been filled as Belgian designer Raf Simons was confirmed as the replacement of the former disgraced creative director John Galliano.

The official announcement was made by the Paris fashion label on 9 April, 2012 with Simon's first collection scheduled for showcase at the July Paris fall haute couture shows.

The decision on appointing Simons was made after 15 months of intense search by the luxury label and its chairperson Bernard Arnault.

"The first time I heard about the Dior position. I thought, 'This feels right,'" Simons told the New York Times in an interview.

A statement released by the French fashion house informed that Simons will take "inspire and propel [the label] into the 21st Century."

Simons' appointment was made after the former director John Galliano was dismissed due to his Anti-Semitic behaviour in a Paris bar.

On 25 Feb, 2011, Dior first announced the suspension of Galliano following his arrest over the alleged anti-Semitic tirade. Videos released showed a drunk Galliano hurl semitic rants at a group of Italian women declaring: "I love Hitler... People like you would be dead..."

After a period of trial, Galliano was found guilty in a French court and was sentenced to pay a total of €6,000) in suspended fines.

Although many expressed their disgust at the disgraceful behaviour of the designer, there were some who still supported him.

French actress Eva Green, said of the incident:"Sometimes, you can make mistakes. I don't think he's anti-semitic. I'm Jewish. I don't think he has anything against the Jews. I think it's more that he was probably a bit drunk."

The Daily Mail reported that after Galliano was fired by Christian Dior, Bill Gaytten, a long-time design collaborator with Galliano, was appointed a temporary replacement at the fashion house. Gaytten designed two collections for Christian Dior. His first was a haute couture collection for 2011, which was widely panned. But his 2012 couture collection attracted more positive reviews.

Catch a glimpse of Gaytten's couture collection at the Fall/Winter 2012-2013 Paris Fashion Week: