French fashion powerhouse Dior has named Raf Simons as chief designer to succeed John Galliano who was fired more than a year ago for racist outbursts.

The 44-year-old Belgian, who started out designing furniture, will be responsible for Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear and Women’s Accessories.

He will premiere his first Christian Dior Haute Couture collection in Paris in July, said Dior, one of the crown jewels in Bernard Arnault’s LVMH luxury empire.

Jil Sander has confirmed she’s returning to her namesake company following Thursday’s news of Raf Simons’ departure from the label.

“I am very happy and excited to be back. It feels like coming home after a brief journey,” Sander said in a statement February 24.

A release announced February 23 that Simons will step down as creative director at the Milan-based label Monday, February 27 — two days after presenting his final Jil Sander collection during Milan Fashion Week.

South Korean mobile phone maker LG Electronics is bringing German’s fashion design brand Jil Sander into their newest device, the LG E906.

Conceived by Jil Sander Corporate Design, the sleek and slim device carries the brand’s signature electric blue.

With its technical platform provided by LG Electronics, the phone runs the next version of Microsoft’s smartphone operating system, Windows Phone 7.5.

After Sun and Jil, the fashion house is hoping to deliver another instant classic with new perfume Eve.

Launched exclusively online on July 13, Eve is a fruity floriental that features top notes of grapefruit flower and redcurrant, a heart of wild rose, jasmine, and violet as well as a dry-down composed of cashmere wood and patchouli.

Jil Sander Fall 2011 campaign is featuring the models Guerrino Santulliana and Daria Strokous as photographed by Willy Vanderperre.

Jil Sander‘s upcoming fall/winter collection for the Japanese retailer Uniqlo - scheduled for a September release – will mark the end of their collaboration.

Initially launched for fall/winter 2009, the partnership brought the German designer’s minimal creations to the mass market for the first time.

Sander had left her own fashion house, now headed by Belgian designer Raf Simons, when it was bought by Italian luxury company Prada.