Celine, a French brand of luxury ready-to wear, handbags and accessories, is making its farewells to the company's artistic director Roberto Menichetti after working together for just two seasons. The partners agreed to terminate their collaboration to let Menichetti focus more on his own brand, launched in 2004, and to give way to a person who would me more involved in the creative processes of the French fashion house.

Although New York designer Peter Som has been allegedly named among the candidates courted by Celine's parent, LVMH Moet Hennessy, he declined the comment when reached by phone.

Menichetti joined Celine in April 2004, succeeding Michael Kors. His collections, inspired by the style of Parisian ladies, did not seem to delight critics. Born in Buffalo, NY Menichetti is based in Italy where his family owns an apparel factory. Before Celine, he had been creative director for Burberry for three years, and had also worked at Jil Sander in Hamburg, Germany.