I Can See (by Chloe) Fall Just Ahead

If there were a designer or a collection that could embody a season, See by Chloe would epitomize summer.  The diffusion line from Chloe has become well known for roomy, breathable silhouettes in fun and flirty colors with tongue-in-cheek super kitschy details. (Like the cute sailors notch and square pleats on the back of the silk dress, or the chiffon bow lopped through a chunky gold chain link on the linen dress).

The designs in the much more youthful contemporary line are full of details that bring you back to your childhood days on the playground… but in a much, much, more fashionable way. (If I had worn these pieces then, I may have been able to avoid a several yearlong fashionably awkward phase)

The diffusion line was launched in 2001 by Phoebe Philo the same year she took over as Creative Director for Chloe after the departure of her dear friend Stella McCartney who left to start her own line (During this time she also developed Chloe’s “Paddington” Bag, arguably one of the most coveted “it” bags in the industry).  Trained at Central St. Martins, like all of the other British fashion powerhouses, Philo knows her stuff. She redefined not only a silhouette with this diffusion line, but also the Chloe customer.  Traditionally, Chloe is seen as a sophisticated, mature, and even austere house in the upper echelons of the fashion world.  They were known for their  body conscious avant-garde boarding haute couture ready to wear style  which they define as “luxury prêt-à-porter”  (They were in fact, considered the first French luxury fashion house to launch a ready-to-wear line, which Chloe’s founder Gaby Aghion did in 1952). Chloe, for the most part, was reserved for the fashion elite.  Under the Stella McCartney/Phoebe Philo regime however, a fresh take on the brand was in the air. Stella brought a sense of “lifestyle” to the house, while Philo infused it with a “street sensibility”.  With the introduction of See by Chloe to the market Philo took her street sensibility to a whole new level, and to a whole new customer. See by Chloe became sought after among the young, fresh, up and coming fashionista’s that resided the world over.  Interestingly enough, the See by Chloe brand, earns more revenue than its older sister Chloe.  If you take a look into Philo’s own sense of fashion it makes the playful nature of the collections all the more clear. She didn’t always take herself so seriously… in fact; she often sported diamante studded nails and even a gold tooth.  She made it a point to have fun. In recent years however, she has seriously cleaned herself up, actually looking the part as Celine’s Creative Director (She took over Celine in 2008 when Ivana Omazić was fired).

Phoebe Philo, Image from Businessoffashion.com

Having so much of Philo herself stamped into the collections, it’s easy to see why See by Chloe has become so popular.  The clothing is easy to wear, almost instantly recognizable without being logo driven, and it’s pretty much a smile stitched in fabric. You can’t help but think of butterflies and sunshine when you put these pieces on.  The two dresses I have in my own wardrobe are great examples of this. They make you warm and fuzzy all over, not because they keep you warm… they in fact do the opposite… but because the quirky scalloped hem, sea foam green color, and wooden detailing (that look like shells) instantly evoke images of the beach, or the bright white linen nestled neatly between rows of day glow coral and raspberry make sunglasses not an accessory but a necessity to anyone accompanying you.

Now, as August comes to a close, I’m sadly reminded that in essence, so too the summer comes to a close. While September in New England brings some of the things I love most in life… hills covered in orange and red trees, apples, and long sleeve knitwear I find myself desperately trying to cling on to those last few days where it’s appropriate to mix white with bold colors (I am making it a point to not just say “wear white,” because white despite what your mother may have taught you, is a universally accepted seasonless color now. In fact “Winter White” will be one of you hottest trends come December January and February). Or, to eke out that one last day in a silk slip dress with a bare leg. Knowing I have at least 6 months (hush, I’m sticking to 6 to make myself feel better) ahead of me of shorter days and increasingly cold weather means I hold onto these summer memories, and my summer attire like no other.

This also means that finding a way to extend these pieces into those first few weeks of fall, maybe even when Indian summer hits is also a necessity for me. Luckily, grabbing a sweater, long sleeved t, and a pair of boots is all you need to extend the life of these summer staples. 

The sea foam green of the dress looks great paired back to charcoal gray. The contrast between the ultra youthful femininity of the silk dress and the nubby woolen texture of a grandfather sweater is the perfect way to pull off an adorably appropriate “Chic Mr. (or I should say Ms.) Rogers” look for fall.

Now, while the linen one shouldered number might be the most “summery” of all its actually is conducive to a few options.  First, color-blocking is perfectly on trend for fall, as is that mod 60’s silhouette. That means, for at least through Labor Day it should be allowed to join the trend party in a way suitable for the weather.  Throwing a boat neck white t under the dress and pairing it back to some rugged boots is a great solution…. I kept saying all day that I felt like a neon version of Taylor Swift. A cozy wrap cardigan provides an extra layer for when it gets even cooler.

If the boots don’t do it for you, the dress can be easily tucked into a pair of slouchy harem pants to keep your legs covered up.  I know… I know… a dress in pants???  Yes, your dresses can actually multi task. The great thing about a harem style pant, is that you can tuck the dress in, with very little bunching. 

Also, while we are on the subject, I would just like to vent for a second about the versatility of a dress.  A dress is perfect for those days when you only want to worry about picking out one thing… it’s a top to bottom ensemble in and of its self. That does not however, mean it is limited to being worn alone.  Dresses can be worn under, over, or in addition to pretty much anything else you have in your closet. Don’t be afraid to let your dresses make other friends in your wardrobe; they enjoy a good supporting cast every now and then too.  Ok, sorry about that… as I was saying…. These woven khaki ones also by See by Chloe work wonders.  These pants by the way are the most comfortable pair of pants I own. The slightly cropped ankle length looks great with a heel or flat, and the pleated detailing provides another delicate dimension to an ordinary pant.  The smocked elastic finish on the back of the pant, and side zip make it so that even on your worst days (yes we all have them) they always fit with ease.  Breathable, playful, and most importantly wearable…. Signature See by Chloe.

"When in doubt wear red" ...But make it green



Stella McCartney



I have a hard enough time picking out what I'm going to wear for the day, let alone the perfect first piece for my blog. Then I remembered great American designer Bill Blass- "When in doubt wear red." Or, look to a fellow redhead. I'm doing both. Who better than Stella McCartney to be my first well-versed muse. 


It's easy to throw up in your mouth a little when you see a "coated cotton" label attached to a $1,095 price tag on her coveted Falabella bag.  "Are you kidding?" is the usual response, and I don't blame you.  This is where education plays a key role in your purchase.  While you might feel a little ripped off by the absence of leather, you are actually holding a rare gem in your hands. 



The Falabella: "The Vegan It Bag"

While the price tag may seem less than "stella," (I couldn't resist) there is a lot of green goodness that goes into the greenbacks being doled out for that bag. It's McCartney's stance on ethical and ecologically responsible production that makes her such a rarity in the fashion industry.

Dating back to her tenure at the famed Central Saint Martins school in London, she has consistently held true to her lacto-ovo-vegetarian roots. Stella refuses to use leather or fur in any of her designs, which, can be a challenge when designing shoes and handbags.  Stella has embraced the task at hand however, cultivating numerous techniques that deliver gorgeously ethical products season after season.  The science involved in creating the fibrous blends that look luxurious while remaining environmentally conscious is incredible. Developing these processes can be much more costly than traditional methods. The production techniques are also much more time consuming.  Natural and woven fibers can be painstakingly temperamental when it comes to consistency. Most of the work has to be done by hand. For this reason, a masterfully tailored blazer (one of her signature staples) ballparks around $1,800. A typical dress comes in around $1,000, a pair of pants around $600 and shoes around $500 (except for boots, in which case, as expected, the price sky rockets). Stella McCartney makes it clear that doing things the right way isn't always the cheapest way. She also proves that tree huggers and fashionistas can be friends; ethics and luxury can live in harmony.

One of the greatest things about McCartney is that she makes green transparent. She is admittedly far from perfect, but she clearly tries hard.  The "Green Me" section of her website meticulously documents the company's role in animal rights awareness, their approach to sustainability, and even gives tips to  make your own life a little more green. StellaMcCartney.com has so much more to offer than an overview of the season's latest collection. A glimpse into the life and practices of Stella herself could keep you occupied and inspired for hours.   I highly recommend reading this article on her production processes and techniques, and this interview on "Doing the Right Thing" for the UK magazine Above.

With everything there is to know about Stella it's not surprising that Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna are some of her closest friends and biggest  supporters.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of Stella McCartney. Aside from her unique fabrications and dedication to the environment her silhouettes break the fashion mold.  Her clothing works with the body, not against it.  Luckily for me she works particularly well with curvy bodies.  As much as some of us girls hate it... we have boobs. A lot of  high-end clothing doesn't account for that.  Stella gets what it is to be a woman. Her clothes make you look and feel sexy, powerful, and confident without clinging to every skin cell.

 

This red silk frock of hers that graces my own wardrobe is one of my top ten favorite pieces.  It is a true multi-tasking garment that can be worn a thousand different ways. As a dress, a top, belted,or bowed the arresting red hue is always a show stopper. I love it paired with my Stella McCartney salmon colored silk "Blenny" shorts. The red/coral color combination is one of my favorites these days. It's so unexpected but completely sophisticated. Its a great plus that the low impact dyes used in both garments make me feel as good about them as I do in them.

Need a few more talking points on Stella McCartney? Just want a couple of cool facts for your mental Rolodex? Check out the Fluent in a Flash page.

Do you want to know anything else about Stella McCartney? Have any other interesting bits of information to offer? Feel free to comment or e-mail me.