Alexander Wang named creative director of Balenciaga

American designer and purveyor of sporty-chic sex appeal, Alexander Wang, has been tapped to succeed designer Nicolas Ghesquiere at French fashion house Balenciaga

American designer and purveyor of sporty-chic sex appeal, Alexander Wang, has been tapped to succeed designer Nicolas Ghesquière at French fashion house Balenciaga

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According to WWD, the official announcement regarding Wang's appointment to the post will come from Balenciaga headquarters next week, while current creative director Nicolas Ghesquière will be exiting his post today.

Ghesquière announced that he would be leaving the brand he's designed for since 1997 at the beginning of November in what was deemed a 'joint decision' between himself and the French fashion house.

Ghesquière is credited with rejuvenating the brand and turning it into a commercially and critically successful fashion house that appeals to a youthful market. Twilight star Kristen Stewart is the label's current muse and face of Balenciaga's Florabotanica scent.

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Wang's edgy, streetwise designs have seen the young Californian-born star's rise swiftly in the fashion stratosphere, and since his women's collection launch in 2008 he has amassed a huge celebrity following including the likes of Miranda Kerr and Rihanna and built a fashion business that includes men's wear, leather goods and diffusion line T by Alexander Wang.

We're excited to see what Wang's youthful take on sportswear - tinged with Gothic sensilbilities - will mean for the brand in the seasons to come...

Do you think Wang has what it takes to take on this mega-French brand? Let us know in a comment below.

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