Céline

It is no secret that Celine has been hugely influential and a favourite of critics since Pheobe Philo took over in 2008. Inspired by the simple,elegant and classic parasian attitude of Celine we decided to look at the this luxury French brand in depth.

In 1945 Parisian Céline Vipiana, helped by her husband Robert, opened a boutique in Paris with her name, selling handmade children’s shoes. They provoked an immediate success.The shoes were an immediate success, sales boosted and she extended her collection to womenswear and accessories.

By the early 1950s Céline established her brand of luxury goods after the lucky prediction that the post war would have brought up a big demand for luxury goods. Riding the wave of success and good fortune the label launched a ready to wear line of ladies clothing. By the late 1950s there were lines of Céline handbags and popular Céline shoes for women. These new lines and the elegant audience that they attracted represented a crucial point for the brand to change. In fact, for Vipiana quality materials were key and the success of the brand and its good sales allowed her to continually innovate with fabric.

From the 1960s onwards Céline really became an international brand since its popular lines of handbags, shoes and clothes start to aim the new middle class market and were no more restricted to the rich elite.

Vipiana believed that “modern women did not need fanciful outfits, they needed chic clothes”. The Céline designer style was not based on one-piece dresses, but on separates sets instead. Skirts or shorts coupled with sheepskin vests or light knitted shirts, a wide belt worn low on the hips and moccasin shoes. This kind of look represented the idea of a woman looking for freedom and emancipation (hence freedom of flare-but for men) Céline collections were easy to wear, with a Parisian soul but a global atmosphere. “Women grasped the idea immediately. They realised that Céline fashion was practical and easy care.

In 2008 Phoebe Philo, the Paris born London based designer was appointed creative director of Céline. After graduating from Central Saint Martin’s in 1996 Philo went to work at Chloé with her friend Stella McCartney, becoming creative director of the label in 2001. In 2005 she was named British Designer of the Year and left Chloé in 2006 to spend more time with her family. Christened the ‘Queen of Boho Chic’ she had transformed the fortunes of Chloé during her tenure there. In 2010 Philo was again named British Designer of the Year, Philo has created a luxury French powerhouse in the form of Celine with an ifluence that is here to stay.

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