There is a reason that fashion journalists have coined the saying, "Clean and lean at Celine," but for the first time since Phoebe Philo began her gig as the brand's (incredibly critically acclaimed) creative director, it was not applicable at the Celine Spring 2012 show.
Philo is known for creating sharp silhouettes. In fact, the designer is so influential that Kanye West references her in a song and many credit her with single-handedly bringing back minimalism (something I will be eternally grateful to Philo for). However, the Celine Spring 2012 collection was not clean and lean. It was full of ruffles and jewel tones and pleats. And this change was a surprisingly welcome departure from Celine's signature pieces.
"It's just very sculptural, very three-dimensional," Philo told Style.com. "We accentuated the bits that felt strong to accentuate, tried to create some new proportions."
With rumors of Phoebe Philo replacing Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton when (okay, if) he leaves for Dior, this collection might just be Philo's first dip into the world of patterns and textures that Louis Vuitton is famous for. After all, there's no harm in testing the waters.
Refreshingly Ruffled Designer Duds
The Celine Spring 2012 Collection Explores New Territory
Trend Themes
1. Ruffled Fashion - Designers are experimenting with ruffles, pleats, and jewel tones instead of clean and sharp silhouettes, creating opportunities for textile and fashion companies to expand their product lines to include more texture and detail.
2. Three-dimensional Fashion - Phoebe Philo's spring 2012 collection at Celine emphasized three-dimensional structures in clothing, offering opportunities for fashion tech companies to innovate with 3D printing and other advanced manufacturing techniques.
3. Changing Signature Style - The Celine Spring 2012 collection marks a departure from the brand's signature clean and lean look, signaling a shift in fashion trends towards more detail and texture and creating opportunities for brands to reinvent their image.
Industry Implications
1. Textile Manufacturing - With the rise of ruffled fashion, there is an opportunity for textile manufacturers to produce new and innovative fabrics that incorporate texture and depth.
2. Fashion Design - The shift towards three-dimensional structures in fashion presents opportunities for designers to experiment with new shapes and materials, creating unique and visually striking clothing.
3. Fashion Retail - As fashion trends change, there is an opportunity for retail companies to adapt and offer new products that cater to the demand for more textured and detailed clothing, helping to keep up with the ever-evolving fashion industry.