DALLAS, Apr 10, 2007/ FW/ --- The announcement last March that Hedi Slimane had left his post as Creative Director of Dior Homme marked the end of an era at the House of Dior as the charismatic French designer said goodbye to the menswear label that he made to be the ‘it’ thing to wear.

One of the most influential designers of the 1990s and this decade, Slimane’s pencil thin silhouettes changed menswear forever. Urban with a rock & roll attitude, Dior Homme became the ‘unofficial’ uniform of fashion-forward young men on both sides of the Atlantic.

Born in Paris, Hedi’s rise to fame began in July of 1997, when he was handpicked by Pierre Bergé to be Artistic Director of the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche men's line.

With the sale of Yves Saint Laurent to the Gucci Group in late 1999, Hedi chose to leave YSL.In July of 2000, he was appointed Creative Director for Dior Homme, as well as manager for the global image of the label.

Hedi has transformed the line into the hottest ticket in town, drawing the attention of a galaxy of admirers - from Karl Lagerfeld and Elton John, to Justin Timberlake, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, David Bowie, Mick Jaggar and Sarah Jessica Parker.

When he unveiled the Fall 2007 Dior Homme collection, rumors were already spreading that Hedi and Dior management were at loggerheads in negotiating a contract. Keeping their fingers crossed that an agreement would be reached soon; Hedi’s fans flocked to the Dior Homme runway show, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite designer.

And Hedi did not disappoint. Sending his signature razor sharp silhouettes once more, with a slight change – he bulked out the male form by layering suits, vests and jackets and proposing dropped-crotch trousers.

As always, when Hedi took his bow, he received a resounding applause from the audience. Little did everyone know that it would be the last one he would take for Dior Homme.

Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane

Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane

Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane

Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane