In a shock move, this week, Ralph Toledano, Chloe’s long serving CEO was replaced Geoffrey de La Bourdonnaye, most recently the chief executive of London department store, Liberty. De La Bourdonnaye will begin his new job with the mission of turning the French brand back into the most desired and lusted after label it was in the Phoebe Philo years.

Toledano joined Chloé in 1999 and steering the creative reigns of Stella McCartney, Philo, Paulo Melim Andersson and currently Hannah MacGibbon. In 2001 after Stella, who was hired straight out of college to helm the house, left to start her own label, Toledano was responsible for hiring the unknown Philo who was Stella’s right hand woman. After turning the house around and making it relevant with her own brand of cool, 70s femininity, sales and waiting lists soared. Chloe is owned by luxury group Richemont who recently bought net-a-porter.com , and brands include Cartier, Dunhill and Van Cleef & Arpels. Things have been a bit uncertain at the house since Philo departed to spend time with her family and then move on to the label of the minute, Celine, but it seems MacGibbon is finally hitting her stride and will really have to prove herself when she shows in Paris next month. More changes are expected with the new blood at Chloe.

Grace Joel x