The Tamesis
Phoebe Philo’s designs at Celine have almost immortal status. Her refined minimalism captured the allure of a new sophisticated femininity and remains one of the most revered and quoted designer aesthetics to this day. The fact that her ten-year tenure still holds so much cultural currency is a testament both to her extraordinary abilities and to the continued success of her design team at the time. Those she led behind the scenes have since spread throughout the industry, with many holding senior positions at other big brands such as Chanel, Burberry and now Courrèges, building an impressive family tree. So where is Philo’s “Old Celine” protégé now? This is an incomplete list.
Drew Henry, Cooley
Drew Henry is Philo’s latest mentee to helm a major brand. The 2014 Central Saint Martins graduate first joined Celine as an intern and became a full-time employee upon graduation. In 2020, Henry rejoined Philo’s eponymous brand, and then joined Burberry in 2023 as senior design director under Daniel Lee, another Philo member.
Nina Kristen, Christiane and Dior
To this day, the most coveted pieces of “Old Céline” remain the accessories—soft molded pumps, wedges, and furry slippers among them. Nina Christen began her career as a shoe designer under Philo alongside current Burberry creative director Daniel Lee, who she later followed to Bottega Veneta. Christen then moved to Loewe, where he was responsible for the design of the iconic balloon pumps, before joining Jonathan Anderson at Dior as footwear design director. In 2025, she also launched a eponymous shoe line.
Daniel Lee, Burberry
Daniel Lee originally joined Philo’s design team at Celine in 2012 and was quickly promoted to design director, a position he held until leaving Bottega Veneta in 2018. After three years at the Italian brand, his successor is Matthieu Blazy, another Celine protégé from the Philo era. Lee will take the top job at Burberry in 2022.
