Céline snaps up ex-Margiela designer Matthieu Blazy

When Maison Martin Margiela announced John Galliano's appointment as creative director back in October, it also put Matthieu Blazy in a pretty awkward position.

At the last Margiela show, Vogue's Suzy Menkes unmasked the 30-year-old designer as the man behind the secretive house's couture collection. But Galliano has taken over all Margiela lines – and he's brought along members of his old team from Dior and his eponymous label with him. So where does that leave Blazy?

According to WWD, Blazy is headed for Céline. Market sources say that the designer has been recruited by creative designer Phoebe Philo.

The hire makes perfect sense: Blazy has years of experience, having previously interned at John Galliano and Balenciaga before serving as senior designer at Raf Simons.

Céline, like Margiela, has a policy of not talking about its new hire – but don't be surprised if you see Blazy in Philo's design studio soon.