After a four-year hiatus – and an entry into motherhood – Phoebe Philo’s return to Paris fashion week on the occasion of her first runway collection for Céline was well worth the painstaking wait.
The spring/summer 2010 show opened with strong, somewhat masculine leathers, and morphed cohesively into sheer nudes and delicate trimmings, each with an individual air of unfussy femininity. Contradictions were the primary focus of the collection- hard and soft, light and dark, airy and structured – with Céline’s staple handbags almost absent from the runway, save for a few understated clutches grasped in models’ hands. Yet there was no sense of decorative deficiency – the wooden wedges that accompanied most looks served as substantial ornamental glue – while the collection’s color scheme was something of perfection, seemingly well thought out and strategic, but to Philo, black, white, camel, and khaki, were simply her favorite at the time; an easy choice.
Philo made a conscious move away from the younger, girlish Chloe customer she once designed with in mind, transitioning into a wardrobe of sensual, smart looks for a refined, workingwoman. Phoebe Philo is known for creating worlds of her own, and with the bound inspiration books given to show-goers upon their arrival, outsiders were able to get a brief glimpse into the secret vault that is her design process; inside, David Bowie, Kurt Cobain, Helmut Newton, disco balls and grainy black-and-white nudes graced the pages. While this whirlpool of references might seem eclectic, the collection was seamless, each look the epitome of modern ‘day wear’ with a sophisticated, clever twist.

References
- 1
- 2
Albert Frey
Frey House II, Palm Springs California

Hermès
Spring/Summer 2000

Georgia O'Keeffe
Taos Mountain New Mexico, 1930

Jim Bassler
Shop, 2008

Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand
Bibliothèque from the Maison de la Tunisie (A Collaboration with Sonia Delaunay), 1952

Mathias Goeritz
Mensaje XV Leviticos XX18, 1959

Frank Lloyd Wright
Ennis House, Los Angeles, 1924

Alexander Calder
Cutlery, 1936

Alfred Stieglitz
Georgia O'Keeffe, 1918

Eva Hesse
Sans II, 1968

Franco Rubartelli
Veruschka in Yves Saint Laurent Safari, 1968

Georges Jouve
Ceramic Tiles

Hermès by Martin Margiela
Spring/Summer 2000

Jean Prouvé
Interior

Kaneshige Toyo
A Bizen Porcelain Water Jar

Valentine Schlegel's Home
Montparnasse

References

Albert Frey
Frey House II, Palm Springs California
1 of 17

Hermès
Spring/Summer 2000
2 of 17

Georgia O'Keeffe
Taos Mountain New Mexico, 1930
3 of 17

Jim Bassler
Shop, 2008
4 of 17

Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand
Bibliothèque from the Maison de la Tunisie (A Collaboration with Sonia Delaunay), 1952
6 of 17

Mathias Goeritz
Mensaje XV Leviticos XX18, 1959
7 of 17

Frank Lloyd Wright
Ennis House, Los Angeles, 1924
8 of 17

Alexander Calder
Cutlery, 1936
9 of 17

Alfred Stieglitz
Georgia O'Keeffe, 1918
10 of 17

Eva Hesse
Sans II, 1968
11 of 17

Franco Rubartelli
Veruschka in Yves Saint Laurent Safari, 1968
12 of 17

Georges Jouve
Ceramic Tiles
13 of 17

Hermès by Martin Margiela
Spring/Summer 2000
14 of 17

Jean Prouvé
Interior
15 of 17

Kaneshige Toyo
A Bizen Porcelain Water Jar
16 of 17
