This place is my second home. Instead of a hotel, I could book a night at Celine.
Avenue Montaigne 53 / Paris
Celine on Av. Montaigne 53
Phoebe Philo
Parisian Chic
Parisian chic has always been an inspiration for designers – but some simply have it in their blood, even if they are not totally from Paris. As I am excited about my Parisian trip which will take place soon, I thought about creating a list of my favourite brands with this famous Parisian attitude.
Celine by Phoebe Philo. The most Parisian of them all. Why? The Celine woman tends to wear black turtleneck dresses with casual, white trainers. Also, this intriguing woman carries her Hobo bag with a chic “so whatever” attitude, giving no s*** whether somebody is going to steal her calfskin wallet. That AMAZING woman is super assertive regarding her beliefs, too, and loves a good book (maybe Patrick Mondiano, for example). Where? You can meet her mostly everywhere in Paris – she might be eating french fries at the fancy L’Avenue or visit Musee d’Orsay for the 2nd time in the month.
Maryam Nassir Zadeh. Although the designer is based in New York, her chic clothes are reflecting Paris. Why? Just look at this outfit. It is so Amelia. A cute pea coat, toned orange midi skirt and comfortable flats. Where? In the Metro Paris. On the Clignancourt flea market.
Crista Seya. Her camel pieces are Parisian essentials. Why? Crista Seya woman feels an aversion towards logos and truly enjoys eponymous labels. Her shoes are made in Argentina while the “travel” bag is always on fleek. However you can’t say that about her outfit – slouchy pantalons, deep layer of knits and over-sized coat. Where? I see her in the Latin Quarter district. It would perfectly suit her lovely messiness.
(Christophe) Lemaire. The wardrobe of a Parisian woman. Why? Lemaire’s collections are concentrated on basics. Well tailored trousers, masculine blazers, soft cashmere sweaters and casual shirts are his essentials. Where? Rue du Saint Honore. Not too fancy and not too modest. Very #treschic!
Haider Ackermann. If Phoebe Philo is the queen of Parisian chic, then Haider is the king. Why? Ackermann is the master of layering. Also, he fuses masculine jackets and trousers with feminine silhouettes (flawless pleated skirts, for example) in a marvelous way. Where? Le Marais district is Haider’s place. Its edginess and off-beat vibe matches the designer’s style in a very good way…
AU REVOIR!
Slip-Ons
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
They are as soft as socks. They are as casual as ballerinas. Slip-ons which are the perfect-shoes-on-the-go are making a loud comeback. It was Maryam Nassir Zadeh who made the cult in New York – and then, Phoebe Philo of Celine made them cool again during her recent fashion shows. What’s nice about them is the fact, that they are so seasonless – I mean, you can wear it during summer and winter, and they always look good and on time. So, in other words, they should be present in your everyday wardrobe!
Celine Pre-Fall 2015
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Celine SS15
Maryam Nassir Zadeh
Playful Simplicity. Celine Pre-Fall’15
There is always a kind of strong anticipation while waiting for the release of Celine’s pre-collections. What Phoebe Philo is going to propose to us this season? Pre-fall at Celine usually means a selection of classical, sophisticated clothes kept in toned colours – this time, Phoebe went slightly more playful, pushing her austere comfort zones. After seeing the AW15 collection, I wasn’t surprised its pre-version will be kind of fun. Hand-embroidered folklore caftans, fringed ponchos and over-sized, burgundy culottes are just few to mention. There was also the slip-dress action – worn in a very Celine-ish way, it felt light and slightly infantile, but in a good way. In overall, a confusion between mature elegance and childish innocence was presemt in these as usually great clothes. Can’t wait to see it strike the stores!
Woman’s World. Celine AW15
Oh gosh. I am drooling over this collection. Give me a reason why shouldn’t I? Phoebe Philo precisely described her woman for fall. “I just want to be a woman“. A woman with ups and downs, which one day is the queen of the world in bicolor satin dresses and second day sophisticated poet or artist in black turtleneck. She wants to be seductive and ooze with sweetness. But she’s more than attractive – she’s confident, open-minded, smart and knows what’s worth for her.
“The best part of this job is finding out more about myself,” Philo said after the show. “It gets deeper and deeper into the roots.” And where those roots went deep today was into a new sense of playfulness. Big, fluffy pom-poms? Otters and foxes and deer as naive animal prints? Duvet coats? “Dressed-up-ness,” Philo called it. “I was never in the head space to approach it before. I find glamour and sexuality awkward. When do they feel authentic? What’s real, what’s not?” Big, rhetorical questions. And Philo addressed them with a collection that, by her own opinion, was a little Latin American. “The blood is hotter,” she said. “The approach is more dramatic.” Of course, Phoebe understands that not every lady feels like going for intense colours. “That’s why there were other times when it was more gritty, more Northern soul, less passionate.”
This is probably the most diverse and eccentric collection Phoebe Philo presented at Celine, but at the same time easy and wearable. Year ago Celine was minimal – now the house is blooming just like the designer. Pregnancy changes women, as my mum says. Phoebe Philo is approving. What’s a definite must-have? Everything.
Design & Culture by Ed 