Michelle Ochs is new Hervé Léger creative chief

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jun 13, 2023

Michelle Ochs — formerly of Cushnie et Ochs and founder of the Et Ochs label — has been named as the new creative director of luxury brand Hervé Léger, best known for its ultra-fitted ‘bandage’ dresses.

The company confirmed on social media that Ochs, the new creative designer, will succeed Christian Juul Nielsen, who’s been in the role since 2018 but who’s believed to be focusing more on his own four-year-old and fast-growing Aknvas label. 

She’ll be at the creative helm for the brand’s dresses and sportswear offer and will report to Melissa Lefere-Cobb, senior VP and division head at Hervé Léger, who referred to Ochs’ “passion for creating unique and striking designs, combined with her deep understanding of the female form”.

Her first collection for the label will be unveiled at New York Fashion Week in September for SS24.

She said on social media: “Hervé Léger is a historic fashion house. I am honoured to lead the team in this next chapter and make my mark on this iconic brand.”

Parsons-trained Ochs founded Cushnie et Ochs in 2008 with Carly Cushnie and left 10 years later but only founded her Et Ochs brand in 2021. That label is reportedly continuing although her role will be more advisory in future.

While Hervé Léger is associated is most people’s minds with those bandage dresses, there has been speculation that Ochs’ arrival will herald an updating of the house style after several years in which Nielsen has focused more on re-establishing that style in the minds of a modern red carpet and luxury customer.

The past few years have seen it using its signature looks to reach more international customers with distribution growing via high-end retailers such as Selfridges.