British designer Phoebe Philo takes helm at French label Celine

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — French luxury group LVMH said Thursday it had appointed British designer Phoebe Philo creative director at the Celine luxury women's ready-to-wear label and Marco Gobbetti as its president and managing director.

Philo, who is credited with reviving another French label, Chloe, will begin at Celine in October, taking over from Croatian designer Ivana Omazic who is leaving after three years in the job, LVMH said in a statement.

Gobbetti currently heads another LVMH brand, Givenchy.

Philo, described by The Times of London as the "Queen of boho chic," quit as creative director at Chloe in 2006 to spend more time with her family.

She had joined Chloe in 1997, and took over the position of creative director from Stella McCartney in 2001 when...