Pilati out and Slimane in at YSL Sources close to the matter say Slimane "will be the new designer at Yves Saint Laurent." The former Dior Homme king of slim Hedi Slimane has signed up as designer-in-chief at Yves Saint Laurent, according to reports in France this afternoon. If confirmed, that means the YSL incumbent, Italian Stefano Pilati, is the latest designer - following Raf Simons at Jil Sander today - who will be presenting a farewell collection this season. Agence France-Press reported that sources close to the matter say Slimane "will be the new designer at Yves Saint Laurent" and that "the contract has been signed." The source continued that the appointment is to be made official during the Paris shows next week. A spokesman for PPR, the owner of Yves Saint Laurent, declined to comment on AFP's story. All the latest from Milan Fashion Week This would be the second sudden return of a formerly top-tier designer - Slimane's seven year tenure at Dior Homme from 2000-2007 ushered in a super-sleek, sometimes tricky-to-sit-down-in suit shape across the entire mens fashion landscape - in the matter of days. And (here we must insert that "if confirmed" caveat again), just like the return of Jil Sander to Jil Sander, it was leaked before the official announcements. The wind of change (apologies to the Scorpions) is blowing afresh in fashionland. So should any other sources be sitting on any other bombshells out there, please do feel free to message us @telefashion on Twitter - we'll see you right. Raf Simons' last hurrah for Jil Sander