Chanel Finally Breaks Its Silence On Those Hedi Slimane Rumours

It´s one of fashion's most persistent rumours, returning cyclically with just a few details altered like an urban myth: Karl Lagerfeld - vocal supporter of Heidi Slimane (a man whose clothes he loved so passionately, he lost 90lbs in order to be able wear his Dior Homme suits) - was said to be grooming him as his Chanel heir apparent.

As the whispers would have it, the plan was to bring Slimane, who garnered both critical acclaim and commercial success at Dior Homme and Saint Laurent, on board to oversee Chanel menswear - an underdeveloped area of the business and one ripe with possibilities. Then, after some time working side by side, it was said that Lagerfeld would prepare Slimane to take over when, eventually, the time was right.

It sounded like such a neat plan, and one that many wanted to will into fruition. But, it seems, our fantasies were not to be. “The house of Chanel has no projects with Hedi Slimane,” the company told WWD today, adding, “Chanel doesn’t work on the launch of a Chanel menswear collection.”

A very final no, by the sounds of it, and yet we’d bet our bottom dollar the rumours won’t go away.