While Christian Dior may be taking its sweet time in finding a replacement for John Galliano, there’s no shortage of rabid speculation about it. At this point everyone from Haider Ackermann to Jason Wu has been floated, some rumors obviously bearing more weight than others. But the name Azzedine Alaïa will probably come as a surprise, even if, considering his influence in the industry, he was most certainly a contender. We say was because the Financial Times‘ Vanessa Friedman reports today that the designer confirmed to her that he had been offered the job, and he turned it down.

This could be an auspicious move on Alaïa’s part, since he’s planning his first foray into couture at the Paris collections next month. Surely knowledge of couture would be a requirement for Galliano’s successor. But it would seem that the great Alaïa wouldn’t look kindly on designing upwards of eight collections a year, particularly since the timing of his own presentations falls into the “whenever the hell I feel like it” category.

But Bernard Arnault is one persuasive Frenchman, and after all, a veteran could be the best idea for the brand (less chance of burnout than an eager upstart). Whatever decision they make we hope they make it soon. With so much speculation, interest in Dior might just wane. Yeah, right. Not with the Galliano trial this week.