Aside from talking briefly to Cathy Horyn after the news of his appointment at Dior was announced, Raf Simons hasn't said much about his new role but today he spoke to WWD. Yesterday reports focused on questioning how Simons' penchant for minimalism would work with the decadence and extravagance of Dior but in the interview Simons confirmed that embracing all of those things won't be a problem.

'I don't think it's wrong to call me a minimalist. It's wrong to call me a minimalist only, he said. 'I am also a romantic person...when I'm married to a house, I will fully embrace its original intention, its heritage and meaning.' The Belgian designer arrives in Paris today to start work on the brand's couture collection, which will be unveiled in Paris in July and made it clear that he intends to work explore Dior's archive. 'I wouldn't go to that place if I only had minimalism in mind. I'm very aware of what the environment is about.'