According to WWD, Dior has enlisted Francesco Russo to work alongside Raf Simons on the brand’s women’s footwear collections, although this move has not actually been confirmed yet by either parties.

The Italian shoe designer is one of the industry’s most in-the-know design icons. Previously a shoe designer at Yves Saint Laurent, Russo created the mega-hit ‘Tribute’ shoe before joining Sergio Rossi.

Creative director and designer at Sergio Rossi from 2008 to 2013, he left the company to found his own namesake footwear label, which launched this September and is based in Paris. (close to Dior!!).

While the footwear options at Christian Dior have been impressive during Simons’s time in charge, there hasn’t yet been a pair with that instant recognition wow-factor. Has Russo been hired to whip up a best-selling rival to the Tribute? Only time will tell.