Hedi Slimane Slams Show Criticism

HEDI SLIMANE released an open letter attacking fashion critic Cathy Horyn yesterday, following her review of his debut Saint Laurent show in Paris on Monday. The designer referred to the writer as a "schoolyard bully" in a written rant posted on his official Twitter page.

Horyn had not been invited to Monday's show - the pair have an on-going feud following a piece the journalist wrote back in 2004, in which she implied that Slimane owes his success to Raf Simons - and so had written her most recent review based on pictures of the show.

"I expected more from his debut," she wrote in her blog, adding that his clothes "lacked fashion spirit". She continued: "Meanwhile, its competitors - Balenciaga, Dior, Givenchy, Celine, Lanvin - are having a terrific season."

Slimane's scathing response came later in the day, with the designer accusing Horyn of being "a publicist in disguise".

"In conclusion, and as far as I'm concerned, she will never get a seat at Saint Laurent, but might get two for one at Dior," he wrote, in reference to Horyn's support of Raf Simons. "She should rejoice. I don't mind critics, but they have to come from a fashion critic, not a publicist in disguise. I am quite mesmerised she did get away with it for so many years."

Commenting that "her agenda is seriously thick and perfectly predictable," Slimane also went on to question Horyn's skills as a writer and her fashion sense.

"Miss Horyn is a schoolyard bully and also a little bit of a stand-up comedian," he wrote. "Insiders argue she is an average writer, and a bit provincial, but I disagree, she did some great things. Her biggest achievement so far is a book about Bill Blass, that I haven't read. It might be terrific, and I'll be happy to recommend it, if it helps the sales.

"I also often hear that her sense of style is seriously challenged, providing that she is meant to be an authority in the village. This is totally irrelevant, no one has ever asked for her to be an inspiration to others after all, and likely it would never happen anyway."

Horyn herself has laughed off the criticism: "It's just silly nonsense to me,"  she told WWD.