Monday 18 July 2011

Stand The Test of Time


















































Ever since the baby doll dresses and stacked wooden heels popularised during her reign at Chloé in the Nineties, Phoebe Philo has imprinted herself onto fashion's collective conscious as the go to designer for luxury, wearable staples that women want to wear. I, like every other fashion fanatic, have followed Philo's evolution from the romantic Chloé days to the more grown up, pulled together aesthetic at Céline and find myself victim to what can only be described as the current Philo epidemic. Inspired both by Philo's personal and professional style, I was interested to read this profile of the designer via The Independent website. Philo's straightforward, industrious approach to the world of fashion design, reflected in her classic, discreet creations comes as a breath of fresh air in an industry renowned for its frivolity. "I think it's quite liberating for women not to have to be so preoccupied with different silhouettes, with different things," she says. It is this no-fuss, substantial approach that has struck a chord with the educated, modern women who comprises the brand's primary market. The success of Céline undoubtedly lies in its wearability factor and relevance to the current economic climate. As much as we can admire the effort and hours of grooming gone into the larger than life outfits of the likes of Anna Dello Russo, it is currently much more desirable to be able to throw on perfectly cut pair of cropped trousers or a simple shift within a mere matter of minutes without having to forsake that million dollar feeling.

"I absolutely love fashion. I love doing new things and finding ways to swerve in a different direction. But one of the reasons why I try to use fabrics and cuts that don't go out of fashion is because I like the idea of women buying the clothes and then... I don't know what the word is... cherish sounds over-emotional for a relationship with a piece of clothing... but for a woman to feel proud, satisfied, comfortable and powerful in them, to wear them and get on with their lives." - Phoebe Philo

(photograph: Phoebe Philo by David Sims for Vogue Paris)

9 comments:

  1. She's such a breathe of fresh air.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi, pleased to meet you

    loving this blog

    come visit some time

    i'd love to hear what you think

    ReplyDelete
  3. She must be my most favourite designer of all time! Thanks for the profile! She is so amazing I'm dreading her next (if it happens) maternity leave.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "to wear them and get on with their lives" - i love that. an excellent snippet to remember for those of us often of the side of preoccupation with clothing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have always loved this picture of phoebe.. it was up on my wall and then my parents painted my room and threw it away. very sad. haha. that was a great interview that really showed me how in tune she is with women. "a woman to feel proud, satisfied, comfortable and powerful in them". That's how I wish I felt in all my clothes!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  6. phoebe really has come into her own with her work at Celine. love how she designs with the woman and herself in mind.

    ReplyDelete
  7. you had found a good pic and was really interesting your post and the article of the link!! i have the first number of ''gentlewoman'' and i remember there is an interview with phoebe.. if you didn't already try to find it in internet (or if you ask i can send it to you) i think she's an interesting personality!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It's so refreshing to hear powerful words behind a powerful collection and its designer. So often fashion gets forgotten as merely a visual art, when so much can be communicated in its transition from concept to conception and Philo's explanation is such a strong, poignant statement to stand behind the work. Love it.

    And love your blog.

    tara grace

    http://www.tailoredthought.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete