The American fashion designer&rsquo;s debut collection with the French luxury fashion house marks a personal homecoming and the brand&rsquo;s return to wearability.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/celine-spring-summer-2025-pfw-paris-fashion-week-looks">Celine</a> will usher in its next visionary period at <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/celebrities-paris-haute-couture-fashion-week-spring-summer-2025">Paris Couture Week</a> on July 6, with <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/michael-rider-new-creative-director-of-celine-hedi-slimane">Artistic Director Michael Rider</a> making his much-anticipated debut at the label&rsquo;s first runway show since 2022. Although his appointment was announced last October, Rider&mdash;an American who began his career under Nicolas Ghesqui&egrave;re at Balenciaga, and most recently served as Polo Ralph Lauren&rsquo;s creative director&mdash;officially took the helm earlier this year, following the departure of Hedi Slimane (whose seven-year run marked a dramatic shift from Phoebe Philo&rsquo;s minimalist era). The transition signals a homecoming for Rider: Having spent a decade as Celine&rsquo;s ready-to-wear design director under Philo, he&rsquo;s intimately familiar with the house, its heritage, and the signature understated style of its golden years. Now, it&rsquo;s Rider&rsquo;s turn to shape the French brand&rsquo;s future, overseeing all collections, from womenswear and menswear to couture and accessories.&nbsp;
Scroll ahead to see everything we know so far about the designer stepping into one of fashion&rsquo;s most-coveted roles.&nbsp;

Polo Ralph Lauren Fall 2020 Menswear cable knit sweater. Photo: Joel Griffith / Courtesy of Polo Ralph Lauren

Michael Rider was raised in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Brown University in 2002. While details about his early and personal life remain private, his academic background and sharp design sensibility have shaped a career that spans some of fashion&rsquo;s most influential houses.&nbsp;
From 2018 to 2024, Rider brought a cool edge to Polo <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/ralph-lauren-ss-2025-nyfw">Ralph Lauren</a> as the line&rsquo;s creative director. Two of his designs were even spotlighted in the label&rsquo;s October 2022 runway show at the Huntington Library in Southern California, alongside pieces from Ralph Lauren&rsquo;s other lines: Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, and Double RL.&nbsp;

Celine Spring/Summer 2016. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Celine Fall/Winter 2013. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/phoebe-philo-celine-chloe-designer-return">Phoebe Philo&rsquo;s</a> era at Celine is widely regarded as the brand&rsquo;s golden age&mdash;a time defined by muted tones and an emphasis on wearability. While she occasionally pushed boundaries with daring pieces, such as sheer silhouettes evoking the naked dress, the overall aesthetic was rooted in understated elegance. Michael Rider, who served as design director of ready-to-wear from 2008 to 2018 under Philo, played a role in shaping that vision.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Celine Men's Fall/Winter 2023. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Celine Fall/Winter 2023. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Under <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/celine-mens-spring-summer-2025-collection-runway-video-images">Hedi Slimane&rsquo;s</a> seven-year creative direction, Celine&rsquo;s revenue soared, surpassing 2 billion euros, according to <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/hedi-slimane-exits-celine#:~:text=At%20the%20LVMH%20annual%20earnings,Fendi%20in%20terms%20of%20revenue." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vogue</a>. It was also during his tenure that the Maison expanded into menswear, fragrance, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/celine-beauty-le-rouge-lipstick">beauty</a>, all wrapped in his signature rock-chic, dark indie aesthetic.&nbsp;

Celine Fall/Winter 2015. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Celine Spring/Summer 2013. Photography courtesy of Getty Images.

Needless to say, Michael Rider has some big shoes to fill. But with his track record of success at Polo Ralph Lauren, a stint at Balenciaga, and foundational experience under Phoebe Philo, his vision is worth watching. We can expect a return to Celine&rsquo;s minimalist roots, reminiscent of Philp&rsquo;s decade-long influence, but likely with a more modern sensibility.&nbsp;
Whether Rider builds on the brand&rsquo;s heritage or reinvents it entirely, we&rsquo;re hoping for a fresh perspective that brings something new to the Celine runway. Either way, all eyes will be on his debut collection, set to unveil at Paris Haute Couture Week this Sunday.&nbsp;

A New Chapter: Michael Rider Returns to His Design Roots at Celine

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