And now time for a little tearjerker for the fashion lover – ahead of his move to Christian Dior, we take a look at some of Raf Simons’s best work at Jil Sander.

Born in 1968, the Belgian designer initially studied industrial design, but soon after moved on to menswear. He worked with Walter Van Beirendonck where he grew more and more interested in the work of Martin Margiela and Jean-Paul Gaultier. In the summer of 2005 he was appointed as creative director at Jil Sander, when the founder Jil Sander herself was forced out of her position after Prada SpA acquired the company. His first collection for the house was for Autumn/Winter 2006 and it was welcomed with standing ovations.

Cathy Horyn, the fashion writer for the NY Times and one of the most respected member of the fashion media wrote of his Fall 2007 collection, “On Tuesday a little-known Belgian designer named Raf Simons had the full attention of the fashion world. Mr. Simons’s collection for Jil Sander, his third since becoming creative director 18 months ago, was perfect. It will make everything else, I bet, seem a little contrived, a little clunky, a little silly.”

We may be sad to see Simons go, but this move marks a new beginning for both the house of Dior and that of Jil Sander – on the 24th of February Jil Sander herself officially announced her return to the eponymous label after 6 long years. For Simons it is a new creative challenge, one he was most certainly ready for.

A nod to Jil – Fall 2006

Colourama  - Spring 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metallic Minimal – Fall 2007

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty in Pink – Spring 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comfort Zone – Fall 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Fringe of Fashion – Spring 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons in Sculpture - Fall 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrific Textiles – Spring 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grunge Androgyny – Fall 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going Quirky – Spring 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Age of Austerity – Fall 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to White – Spring 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swan Song – Fall 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(All images via style.com)