PARIS, Jun 26, 2002/ --- In an anticipated announcement Thursday, French house Louis Féraud named 35-year-old Belgian designer Jean-Paul Knott as creative director of the new Feraud luxury ready-to-wear line.

Knott, who previously worked with Yves Saint Laurent and consulted at Krizia, launched a signature line in 2000. Famed for his execution of complex and fluid drapery, he will show his first collection for Feraud during Paris fashion week in October.

Knott replaces Yvan Mispeleare, who left the company in March. Mispeleaere, a former designer for both Prada and Valentino, produced clothes that, though poetic and beautiful in a wildly inventive way, never managed to seduce the elusive shopper.

Since Mispeleaere's departure, Feraud has ceased its couture operations, though they may well be resumed sometime next year, possibly as soon as the summer 2003 season.

Louis Féraud, who opened his first boutique in Paris in 1956, was famous for dressing film stars like Brigitte Bardot, who helped jumpstart his career after she wore one of his white sundresses on the streets of Cannes.

He died from Alzheimer's in 1999, the same year that the house was taken over by Dutch firm Secon, which now shares ownership with Feraud chairman Michael Rover and Escada AG.

The label's main Paris store, located on the rue du Faubourg St-Honore, is currently in the midst of an extensive facelift that will help bring it up to par with its illustrious neighbors, including YSL, Roberto Cavalli and Chloe.