See by Chloe

See by Chloe

August 20, 2009 12:00 by Aarti Nagraj

Autumn

This girl is something of a toyboy, but she remains feminine above all. The Autumn collection from See by Chloé is the story of a romance, an encounter in a gallery on its opening night, in an 80s-thinking New York. The girl wears a coat with a pop motif harking back to Keith Haring’s designs. Her i-Pod reflects the spirit: Neneh Cherry’s melodic hip-hop from the Buffalo era, but also post-punk bands from Portland or Detroit.

The collection is all about contrasts. Narrow proportions are paired with wider, almost inflated volumes. A lamé dress can be worn with raw denim, a tracksuit-style pant with a fluid silk blouse. Our girl wears a jacket that appears to have been stolen from her boyfriend’s wardrobe, but belts it to give it a more feminine aspect. She also borrows from workwear with all-in-ones in chambray or tuxedo-style for evening. The classic trench and waterproof textures are revisited in cape form. To balance this masculine style, flirty frills or bows feature on fine knits or dresses reminiscent of prom outfits for an eternal student look.

Colours inject life into this softly excentric style. The young lady blends tomato red or apple green with darker shades like a nut brown, a sunny gold or a crimson purple. Prints play a similar game : dots cover a silhouette and tartans feature bright shades.

Winter

On the Brighton seafront, a young girl chats lovingly with her boyfriend. The Scooter girl is happy to have found a Teddy Boy in whose closet she can fid key pieces to borrow for her new look, which is rock’n’roll with hints of grunge and a touch of pop insolence. The Winter collection plays with appearances and preconceived ideas. It’s a look that defies archetypes, using that 50s spirit that has already inspired the 80s.

The American Graffiti mood is revisited in a relaxed manner, in a slightly Campus style yet packed with prints : tartans, gothic or abstract motifs with special effects in white filaments. The winter sports theme, and especially a 50s Gstaad or St Moritz, crosses the entire collection : short trousers, Russian-style hats, fake fur coats and ironic jacquard knits. Tight pencil skirts or shirred chiffon dresses in pastel tones offer a seductive dress code. Colours brighten the tone : a bright orange blends with raspberry, and same-shade prints warm tones such as champagne, iced chestnut or amber grey. A key detail : the punk spirit reflected in black dresses studded with rivets and metal details.

The Accessories

Colored with a hint of seductive humour, accessories are not averse to comfort and follow the same night/day dichotomy as the clothes, in perfect harmony with the collection. Shoulder bags, some inspired by the bowling bag, are supple and often in dua matte/shiny materials. Volumes are generous to optimise ease and lightness. Each piece can be customised with pop plexiglass or leather charms in pop colours. Shoes accentuate the cool style of the collection with lined boots inspired by après-ski and reworked to evoke a desert boot. Two-tone trainers as soft as mocassins are perfect to walk the streets.