Givenchy confirms Clare Waight Keller appointment

Givenchy has confirmed the appointment of British designer Clare Waight Keller as its new artistic director.

Waight Keller, who presented her last collection for Chloé at Paris Fashion Week this month, replaces Riccardo Tisci who stood down after 12 year tenure in February and has been widely tipped to take over at Versace.

Following the announcement of her departure from Chloé at the start of the year, industry sources said they believed she had another role lined up but rumours of a move to Burberry or Céline were quickly dismissed.

Instead she has become the first woman to take over the LVMH-owned house which was founded 65 years ago by Hubert de Givenchy (last year ex-Valentino joint creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri became the first woman ever to be appointed as head designer at Dior) and will present her first collection for the house during the next edition of Paris Fashion Week in October.

It is likely her softer, more romantic design handwriting will mark something of a change in direction at Givenchy which found great success under Tisci and his distinct gothic aesthestic.

Last week Richemont-owned Chloé confirmed that ex-Louis Vuitton second in command Natacha Ramsay-Levy would be replacing Waight Keller, who had been with the house since 2011. Prior to that she headed up British heritage brand Pringle.