Fashion Wire Daily - Paris - Classically posh French fashion label Faconnable has named innovative designer Julian Neale to be its new artistic director.

"Façonnable is pleased to announce the arrival of Julian Neale... In his new position, he will oversee the development of all menswear and womens wear collections," the house announced in a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The news amounts to a rather brilliant comeback for Neale, who left his position as designer of Germany's Rena Lange this summer.

"Fashion is ever-changing but style lasts," said Neale. "With Façonnable there is a storied heritage of quality and a chic French attitude. I am here to build on that foundation by injecting a contemporary edge that will only serve to highlight and modernize Façonnable's singular aesthetic - not compete with it."

Born in Turkey, raised in Hong Kong and a graduate of Kingston University in London, Neale, upon graduation worked closely with Michael Kors in his studio when the American designer was directing Celine a decade ago. Subsequently, at Rena Lange he was acclaimed for his courageous avant garde take on the highly traditional German label.

Professionals will get their first chance to view Neale’s opening ideas for Faconnable when he presents a Pre-Fall 2012 collection for women and a Fall 2012 collection for men in January at Pitti, the giant fashion industry salon in Florence, Italy.

Prior to Neale's appointment, Faconnable had been designed by an in-house team, following the departure of former creative director Eric Wright, who resigned in January 2010.