Chloé Spring/Summer '13

All runways photographs courtesy of Fashionologie.com

   Clare Waight Keller has returned to Paris Fashion Week with a powder-coloured, spring/summery collection for Chloé- and it is utterly gorgeous. I did not expect to like this collection as much as last season's, but although I adore snug winter coats, elegant, chiffon dresses that you can imagine ambling through Paris in in a slight breeze will always win me over and I am completely charmed. As someone who tends to stick to pastel colours in their wardrobe, the familiar muted and romantic colour palette Clare has produced has me sold.
  The label is currently in the limelight for celebrating its impressive sixty year anniversary and so for this season Waight Keller looked to the core of the brand for her inspiration; in its founder Gaby Aghion. This inspiration was specifically about Aghion's mantra: "I lived the life I wanted." Founded in 1952, Chloé has always been miles ahead in producing ready-to-wear fashion and this collection really represents what Chloé is about; strong feminine clothes that are easy to "pull-on and go". With the launch of the fashion house's 60-year retrospective exhibition; Chloé.ATTITUDES at the Palais de Tokyo last weekend, yesterday's show has been hotly-anticipated and Waight Keller was fully aware of the high expectations. Easy to wear was exactly what she delivered, and it seems the brand's 60 year reign has encouraged her to show a slight rebelliousness and overconfidence- and why not?!- with lots of structure and volume. The traditional, ultra-feminine diaphonous materials mixed with points and peplums to-die-for made for a beautiful catwalk debut. Waight Keller elaborated after the show: "I wanted a feminine spirit, but sharp...So we cut the ripples in the material, like a knife."
 

 

 

 

 

    The show opened with a navy, minimalist-chic skirt and layered top combination which hinted at the shape we would be seeing in the collection with the slight wave of the mini-skirt. The low sophisticated ponies and nude-toned makeup had me wondering whether they were to direct all attention onto the clothes however I soon came to the conclusion that they completely complimented the mood of Chloé S/S '13: effortless but cute and sexy. The collection fared on into sophisticated work or city wear; slightly cropped trousers and just above the knee shorts worn with oversized and cape-shouldered luxe white tees. Interspersed in the more casualwear were sleek bandeau and one shoulder dresses with frilled hems, drop-waists and pierrot ruffle shoulders and necklines. Fluidity was a key part of the collection, with specific movement obviously intended to catch the eye. From billowy sleeves and swingy crop tops to swishy skirts and rippling sheer overlays, there was more volume than ever in a Chloé collection, though it still managed to look neat and clean.
  The colour palette tipped slightly from nudes and neutrals to a couple of navys and browns, and a dash of mustard on a gorgeous pair of flower-appliqued-on-one-leg trousers was a pleasant surprise. Most pieces stuck to a simple one colour aside from the oversized floral print on bermuda-type shorts and matching tees- those I was not so keen on as they looked like camouflage from a distance, though they will of course work for some. The soft lilacs and shimmery blush pinks that dominated flirty frocks and came in organza silks and delicate waves seemed to pay homage to last year's texture-filled under-the sea trend in conjuring up images of floating coral and jellyfish.

 

 

 

 

 

    As usual, there was the traditional Chloé masculine element, represented by pieces such as an oversized, boyish white shirt done up to the collar, an extra-oversized nude blazer with no lapels and a high-necked trouser suit in a mannish dark blue. Each androgynous element however was matched with an effeminate quality; the shirt being paired with latticed shorts and the blue tux with sequinned stripes sewn vertically down its sides. As well as the masculine, tailored aspects of the collection there was an unexpected amount of fine detail from the constant ruffled numbers to bow-adorned sleeves and the sequinned arrows of one top- all in all, Waight Keller has offered us quality, wearable classics that also come with great skill and thought. As for the accessories, I'm sure many are lusting over those super-cute minature satchels! Gold was the key colour, with chunky bangles and metallic strappy courts teaming up with the majority of pieces. There were a couple of variations- for example pewter coloured pumps matched with a playful lilac top and shorts combo and tan chunky heeled sandals seemed to go best with white for the ultimate chic, summer daytime looks.
   As the show came to a close, the audience was stunned with a sea of flouncy chiffon blouses and dresses all embellished with lines of gold sequins that subtly caught the light. Verdict = adore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



A triumphant Clare Waight Keller (Photo courtesy of Zimbio.com)

 Watch the full Chloé show here:

 

 

The Chloé Alphabet: Check out this cute digital archive celebrating the fashion houses' 60th anniversary- click on each interactive letter to view original films, documentaries, archive imagery, music and past advertising that will show you the story of Chloé. http://www.chloe.com/alphabet/