There was an overwhelming sense of freedom and exhilaration involved in Phoebe Philo’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection for Céline, which saw the female designer creatively exploring the unexpected theme of automobiles – more specifically, the interiors of cars, her love of driving and the enduring idea that "women in cars are very seductive.”
A pre-show teaser handed out to attendees granted a look inside Philo’s inspiration for the collection, containing images of women behind the wheels of luxury vehicles and other vintage cars. Discreetly woven within each look, the automobile theme was touched on through a multitude of the sophisticated and subtle design details for which Philo has become known.
Classic statement coats were the season’s featured outerwear, fasted together by an interior seatbelt-like strap, while slick vinyls and soft leathers were manipulated with unexpected ease, producing garments bearing striking similarity to the smooth curves present in leather-covered car interiors. Tailored pants accompanied by leather waistbands featured subtle racing-stripes down the leg, while sheer mock-necked tops utilized soft leather panels to simulate geometric shapes and cubist patterns.
Color was used sparingly throughout the collection, from deep, dusty reds and a bright orange wool coat, to mustard yellow, baby pink, and pops of blue. Color blocking was yet another featured technique of the season, suggested by subtle contrasts in fabrication, creating the illusion of three-quarter length sleeves and argyle-like motifs. The most unexpected segment of the show managed to also be the collection’s most unforgettable, a series of simple, wood grain printed looks, an illusion that invoked the feeling of a lacquered dashboard found in vintage car interiors.
Classic pointed leather loafers with delicate heels in a variety of neutral leathers gave a sense of uniformity to the collection, as did the simple white turtlenecks that were layered throughout. While accessories were sparse, Philo’s achievements in tailoring and delicate modes of fabrication spoke volumes.
![Celine fw 2011 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/205u4IItNE4zniUbO8hRhV/9b6ccc8dd443ca45be20a7ed63379097/Celine_FW_2011_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
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Balenciaga
Fall/Winter 2002
![Balecniaga fw 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/aw1d38JpfKChDIMT1a7OQ/67c1ae62f5f55fb1f786cb971675debf/Balecniaga_FW_2002.jpg)
Entryways of Milan
Via Giovanni Pascoli 21, Milan, Italy
![Via giovanni pascoli 21 milan](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6tV5e5KLR7FnIeA6APVp3V/a61d8c76f6c3d968bf79f1c7f744890a/via_Giovanni_Pascoli_21__Milan.jpg)
Richard Artschwager
Exclamation Point, 2010
![Richard artschwager exclamation point 2010](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2z6dg4KTwIQYJwfMX4dxZl/4a6ef7567024b21a80df43d453d4ea0e/Richard_Artschwager_Exclamation_Point__2010.jpg)
Tauba Auerbach
Wood, 2011
![Tauba project 4](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/567yROSmKLgy8GWj4tvB99/90076dd7a71912adf7450291dd408b83/tauba_project_4.jpg)
Christina Ramberg
Freeze and Melt, 1981
![Christina ramberg s 1981 painting freeze and melt. university of wisconsin madison gift of mr. and mrs. scott c. anixte](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5LDgpCdRC893AvUwg4TQhu/48a5a069d8bb046e5042acbd204d6b95/Christina_Ramberg_s_1981_painting__Freeze_and_Melt.___University_of_Wisconsin-Madison__Gift_of_Mr._and_Mrs._Scott_C._Anixte.jpeg)
Andre Sornay
Early Tubular Metal Chair, 1929
![Early pair of tubular metal chairs by andre sornay ca. 1929](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/41k9SsH8OkgtdwcxLHxan/8abd99e1b3dc9bfc30d2f52ee3c4ae65/Early_Pair_of_Tubular_Metal_Chairs_by_Andre_Sornay__ca._1929.jpg)
Calvin Klein
Handbags, Vogue, 1979
![Calvin klein handbags vogue 1979](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/54dcVWXbS3IQFnt8keDIRy/36823e2b7373e7938948a20dcb713983/Calvin_Klein_Handbags__Vogue_1979.png)
Mathieu Mategot
Attributed Red Metal Magazine Holder, 1950s
![1950 s mathieu mategot attributed red metal magazine holder](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2yyfeq07atobwi4BKSOJqu/739f0554246b22b0064fd43eda02ec04/1950_s_Mathieu_Mategot_Attributed_Red_Metal_Magazine_Holder.jpg)
Axel Einar Hjorth
Utö, Sanded solid oak sofa, Sweden, 1931
![Axel einar hjorth. uto sanded solid oak sofa. sweden 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/9EiYsH3Jru65YW7QGoV8G/10179483ff97c55fe1a33926b4b57b7f/Axel_Einar_Hjorth.____Uto_______sanded_solid_oak_sofa._Sweden__1931.jpg)
Barnett Newman
Vir Heroicus Sublimis, 1950-1951
![Barnett newman vir heroicus sublimis 1950 51](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/vDVu5imTtqgEXz4pNcqs0/9b1191916ebe509dccce5599a16e8b14/Barnett_Newman__Vir_Heroicus_Sublimis__1950-51.jpg)
Calvin Klein
Ensemble, Vogue, 1972
![Calvin klein ensemble in vogue 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1dLGT22mbpOTRSjBce8D01/06f4be4b74e0a8b04d56903728e85d48/Calvin_Klein__Ensemble__in_Vogue__1972.jpg)
Ed Ruscha
Pepto-Caviar Hollywood, 1970
![Ed ruscha pepto caviar hollywood 1970](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/11xkOcodpyx32bnvhiPRez/7749a6b9ddbe20a17f6424fdb4936433/Ed_Ruscha__Pepto-Caviar_Hollywood__1970.jpg)
Ed Ruscha
Hollywood, 1968
![Ed ruscha hollywood 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6tK1awJI4r5qhz6bUCjsYI/b9dcc20f21a702d598e33186c279f2a2/ed-ruscha-hollywood-1968.jpg)
Lina Bo Bardi
Lounging in her iconic Bowl Chair
![Lina bo bardi lounging in her iconic bowl chair.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4810i76R88cJhAijGViSxW/67586d723cd1d2ab5774d9bd80d7cfa2/Lina_Bo_Bardi_lounging_in_her_iconic_Bowl_Chair..jpeg)
Pier Luigi Nervi & Annibale Vitellozzi
Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy, 1956-1958
![Pier luigi nervi rome 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2sYOoDQeCTV3yYYmEeR3xh/b61020defaf0aa18e0bc3d0beeb8b81c/pier_luigi_nervi_rome_-_1957.jpg)
Raoul Hausmann
Mechanischer Kopf or Mechanical Head, 1919-1920
![Raoul hausmann mechanischer kopf te te me canique mechanical head der geist unserer zeit l esprit de notre temps](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/26xxmpiy5nk53ZtFeTWNBD/0755b1949f5e976aa0662d8622f613e5/Raoul_Hausmann__Mechanischer_Kopf__Te__te_me__canique___Mechanical_Head___Der_Geist_unserer_Zeit___L_esprit_de_notre_temps__.jpg)
Gustave Miklos
Joseph Csaky, 1920
![Sculpture gustave miklos joseph csaky circa 1920](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/10y3CbUcIeu26pcboBMggK/36f9846cd870cc0ac8ba0069e48c4698/sculpture_-_gustave_MIKLOS____joseph_CSAKY_-circa_1920.jpg)
Billy Al Bengston
Skinny's 21, 1961
![Skinny s 21 by billy al bengston 1961](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/693563Aa9LlK3ph4FRrj1J/d5ba108895532ad6e63e42ec4dbc1f40/Skinny_s_21__by_Billy_Al_Bengston__1961.jpg)
References
![Balecniaga fw 2002](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/aw1d38JpfKChDIMT1a7OQ/67c1ae62f5f55fb1f786cb971675debf/Balecniaga_FW_2002.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Balenciaga
Fall/Winter 2002
1 of 18
![Via giovanni pascoli 21 milan](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6tV5e5KLR7FnIeA6APVp3V/a61d8c76f6c3d968bf79f1c7f744890a/via_Giovanni_Pascoli_21__Milan.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Entryways of Milan
Via Giovanni Pascoli 21, Milan, Italy
2 of 18
![Richard artschwager exclamation point 2010](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2z6dg4KTwIQYJwfMX4dxZl/4a6ef7567024b21a80df43d453d4ea0e/Richard_Artschwager_Exclamation_Point__2010.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Richard Artschwager
Exclamation Point, 2010
3 of 18
![Tauba project 4](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/567yROSmKLgy8GWj4tvB99/90076dd7a71912adf7450291dd408b83/tauba_project_4.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Tauba Auerbach
Wood, 2011
4 of 18
![Christina ramberg s 1981 painting freeze and melt. university of wisconsin madison gift of mr. and mrs. scott c. anixte](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/5LDgpCdRC893AvUwg4TQhu/48a5a069d8bb046e5042acbd204d6b95/Christina_Ramberg_s_1981_painting__Freeze_and_Melt.___University_of_Wisconsin-Madison__Gift_of_Mr._and_Mrs._Scott_C._Anixte.jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Christina Ramberg
Freeze and Melt, 1981
5 of 18
![Early pair of tubular metal chairs by andre sornay ca. 1929](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/41k9SsH8OkgtdwcxLHxan/8abd99e1b3dc9bfc30d2f52ee3c4ae65/Early_Pair_of_Tubular_Metal_Chairs_by_Andre_Sornay__ca._1929.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andre Sornay
Early Tubular Metal Chair, 1929
6 of 18
![Calvin klein handbags vogue 1979](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/54dcVWXbS3IQFnt8keDIRy/36823e2b7373e7938948a20dcb713983/Calvin_Klein_Handbags__Vogue_1979.png?w=1000&q=70)
Calvin Klein
Handbags, Vogue, 1979
7 of 18
![1950 s mathieu mategot attributed red metal magazine holder](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2yyfeq07atobwi4BKSOJqu/739f0554246b22b0064fd43eda02ec04/1950_s_Mathieu_Mategot_Attributed_Red_Metal_Magazine_Holder.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Mathieu Mategot
Attributed Red Metal Magazine Holder, 1950s
8 of 18
![Axel einar hjorth. uto sanded solid oak sofa. sweden 1931](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/9EiYsH3Jru65YW7QGoV8G/10179483ff97c55fe1a33926b4b57b7f/Axel_Einar_Hjorth.____Uto_______sanded_solid_oak_sofa._Sweden__1931.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Axel Einar Hjorth
Utö, Sanded solid oak sofa, Sweden, 1931
9 of 18
![Barnett newman vir heroicus sublimis 1950 51](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/vDVu5imTtqgEXz4pNcqs0/9b1191916ebe509dccce5599a16e8b14/Barnett_Newman__Vir_Heroicus_Sublimis__1950-51.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Barnett Newman
Vir Heroicus Sublimis, 1950-1951
10 of 18
![Calvin klein ensemble in vogue 1972](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/1dLGT22mbpOTRSjBce8D01/06f4be4b74e0a8b04d56903728e85d48/Calvin_Klein__Ensemble__in_Vogue__1972.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Calvin Klein
Ensemble, Vogue, 1972
11 of 18
![Ed ruscha pepto caviar hollywood 1970](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/11xkOcodpyx32bnvhiPRez/7749a6b9ddbe20a17f6424fdb4936433/Ed_Ruscha__Pepto-Caviar_Hollywood__1970.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ed Ruscha
Pepto-Caviar Hollywood, 1970
12 of 18
![Ed ruscha hollywood 1968](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6tK1awJI4r5qhz6bUCjsYI/b9dcc20f21a702d598e33186c279f2a2/ed-ruscha-hollywood-1968.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Ed Ruscha
Hollywood, 1968
13 of 18
![Lina bo bardi lounging in her iconic bowl chair.](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4810i76R88cJhAijGViSxW/67586d723cd1d2ab5774d9bd80d7cfa2/Lina_Bo_Bardi_lounging_in_her_iconic_Bowl_Chair..jpeg?w=1000&q=70)
Lina Bo Bardi
Lounging in her iconic Bowl Chair
14 of 18
![Pier luigi nervi rome 1957](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2sYOoDQeCTV3yYYmEeR3xh/b61020defaf0aa18e0bc3d0beeb8b81c/pier_luigi_nervi_rome_-_1957.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Pier Luigi Nervi & Annibale Vitellozzi
Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy, 1956-1958
15 of 18
![Raoul hausmann mechanischer kopf te te me canique mechanical head der geist unserer zeit l esprit de notre temps](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/26xxmpiy5nk53ZtFeTWNBD/0755b1949f5e976aa0662d8622f613e5/Raoul_Hausmann__Mechanischer_Kopf__Te__te_me__canique___Mechanical_Head___Der_Geist_unserer_Zeit___L_esprit_de_notre_temps__.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Raoul Hausmann
Mechanischer Kopf or Mechanical Head, 1919-1920
16 of 18
![Sculpture gustave miklos joseph csaky circa 1920](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/10y3CbUcIeu26pcboBMggK/36f9846cd870cc0ac8ba0069e48c4698/sculpture_-_gustave_MIKLOS____joseph_CSAKY_-circa_1920.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gustave Miklos
Joseph Csaky, 1920
17 of 18
![Skinny s 21 by billy al bengston 1961](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/693563Aa9LlK3ph4FRrj1J/d5ba108895532ad6e63e42ec4dbc1f40/Skinny_s_21__by_Billy_Al_Bengston__1961.jpg?w=1000&q=70)