Designer Raf Simons Decides to Leave French House Dior Unexpectedly

After an impressive three-and-a-half year run with Dior, artistic director of women's haute couture Raf Simons decided to cut ties with the French luxury brand. The man behind the minimalist-chic aesthetic is bidding Dior farewell.

According to WWD, Simons has decided to leave his position as the artistic director of Christian Dior's women's collection to focus on other endeavors in his life:

A native of Neerpelt, Belgium, Simons was always passionate about fashion and design. The designer obtained a degree in industrial and furniture design in 1991. After drawing inspiration from several designers, Simons took a leap of faith and crossed over from furniture to fashion, launching a street-inspired menswear collection in 1995. After that, as they say, the rest was history.

Simons took over Dior in 2012 after John Galliano's departure. Some people say that bringing on the designer was the best decision Dior made and we have to agree! The debut of his first ready-to-wear show was a huge success showcasing luxurious fabrics in simple, clean and feminine ensembles that were to die for. True to his love of tailoring, pantsuits were all the rage in this collection.

In Simons Dior reign, the designer not only showcased beautiful and timeless pieces, he made history. He bestowed an honor to pop star Rihanna, making her the first black woman to ever be the face of the French brand.

Simon's wholesale collection can currently be purchased in over 130 stores worldwide. Born with the aesthetic of tailoring and accessorizing, the designer has established himself as a true talent who received the International Award at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards, growing Dior's sales in women's ready-to-wear collections and building his own brand.

Dior has been one of the top fashion houses for quite some time. Us fashion lovers will certainly miss Simons and all of his contributions, and his successor will have some incredibly major shoes to fill.

Are you sad to see Simons go? Who do you think will be named Simons' successor at Dior? Let us know in the comments section down below!