This season is going to be remembered not for trends or style icons, but as the season of the great creative reshuffle. First Galliano was fired from Dior under the shadow of scandal, spelling rumours of a major swap-around in the luxury French fashion houses, and just yesterday it was announced that another of the greats has jumped ship as Christophe Decarnin parted ways with Balmain. The French designer, who joined the label in 2005, is widely credited as the strength behind Balmain, lifting both prices and designs to new heights, and inspiring Balmania among celebs and the fashion world with his fierce designs. Although his departure hasn’t attracted the same sense of shock as Galliano’s, rumours are rife as to what has prompted the split. Most sources suggest the designer’s recent absence from his AW11 show, blamed on exhaustion, was actually masking a deeper emotional health crisis. But it’s also possible that his leaving has a lot to do with creative differences between Decarnin and Balmain CEO Alain Hivelin (how many ripped tees and power leather can one really wear?), or that the designer’s enthusiasm was lost after unofficial Balmain ambassador and supportive friend Emmanuelle Alt left the brand to take the helm at Vogue Paris. Either way, there’s opening at Balmain for one of the biggest feats in fashion, and the question on everyone’s lips is who’s going to get it. We’ve highlighted the favourite front-runners for the job (and yes, the same names rumoured for Dior are cropping up here, too) – see below for the candidates tipped for the post. 1. Melanie Ward Who: Balmain’s stylist Why: Fashionista tips Ward as the most likely replacement. Following Emmanuelle Alt’s departure, über-stylist Ward stepped in to cover styling duties at Balmain, and was credited, albeit unofficially, with having […]