Fashion career profile
Michael Rider
Michael Rider is an American fashion designer and Brown University graduate whose career has been closely connected to CELINE. He joined the house in 2008 and became Design Director of Ready-to-Wear, later moving to Balenciaga and then to Polo Ralph Lauren, where he led Polo women’s design from 2018 to 2024. CELINE appointed him Creative Director in 2024 and he joined in 2025, succeeding Hedi Slimane. His Spring 2026 debut balanced continuity with a new interpretation of the house’s codes. The profile distinguishes Rider’s earlier category-specific design-director role from his current house-wide creative direction and treats his Polo Ralph Lauren tenure as a separate employer, not a concurrent CELINE position. His first CELINE chapter included work in the design studio before he rose to Ready-to-Wear Design Director, then left for Ralph Lauren.
- Role
- Creative Director, CELINE
- Nationality
- American
- Age
- 45
- Career appointments
- 4
- Fashion houses
- 3
- Polo Ralph Lauren — Creative Director2018–2024 · former
- Everyone Wants to Dress Like Michael Rider's Celine WomanWho What Wear · 2026-10-05
- Celine Spring 2027: Real Clothes, Worn SpontaneouslyWWD · 2026-10-03
- Michael Rider Takes Celine Off ScriptThe Impression · 2026-10-03
- Education: Brown UniversityVogue’s profile identifies Rider’s education and early career. · Vogue
- CELINE: Appointed Creative Director in 2024; joined in 2025LVMH’s Spring 2026 debut announcement identifies his role and first collection for the house. · LVMH
- Polo Ralph Lauren: Creative Director of Polo Women’s, 2018–2024Vogue reports Rider’s six-year tenure before his return to CELINE. · Vogue
- 2008 — Joins CELINE’s design organizationHe later becomes Design Director of Ready-to-Wear before moving to other houses.
- 2025 — Returns to CELINE as Creative DirectorHe joins in 2025 and debuts with the Spring 2026 collection.
- 2025–Present — Creative Director — CELINECurrent appointment · LVMH
- 2018–2024 — Creative Director, Polo Women’s — Ralph LaurenHistorical appointment · Vogue
- 2008–2018 — Design Director, Ready-to-Wear — CELINEHistorical appointment · Vogue
- 2004–2008 — Senior Designer — BalenciagaHistorical appointment · Vogue