Peter Som named to head Bill Blass label

Designer Peter Som is the new creative director of the women's division at Bill Blass. He steps into a post left vacant since earlier this year when Michael Vollbracht stepped down.

The position is something of a return to Som's roots. Early on in his career, Som, a San Francisco native, worked wtih Blass as well as in the design rooms of Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. Som introduced his own self-named collection in 2001.
Som says he will continue his own line in addition to heading the design team for the Blass label.
"My current focus is to evolve and modernize the brand by incorporating my own aesthetic while staying true to Mr. Blass' vision and legacy,'' Som said in a statement.

The Blass label is best known for tailored and elegant styles. Before his retirement in 1999, Bill Blass dressed socialites, stateswomen and celebrities … women he also called friends.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report