enough enough enough!

It's no surprise, really that I should like Isabel Marant so much. I read an article about her and she talked about how she doesn't use a fit model, everything she makes is tried out on her first. All of my favourite designers have similar policies - Christopher Kane gets his sister and business partner Tammy to model everything that he designs. And, of course, Phoebe Philo. My absolute favourite designer is her own fit model and source of inspiration: not only does she mine her own closet for some of her designs at Celine, but she owns everything she has ever made for them. She only designs clothes that she would want to wear, and since she has impeccable taste and just a hint of british foxiness, who doesn't want to dress like her?  Men's tuxedo jackets, tapered pants, silky shirts, a-line skirts and breton tops... It's all about cut, finish and line. Her style looks lived in, which with two young children and a city-hopping job I'm sure it is. In an article with Hadley Freeman Philo was asked if, on her 2 year sabbatical, she ever missed the world of fashion. Philo's answer was a resounding, immediate "No". I imagine Philo is someone who, despite loving and living in the world of fashion is not completely glued to it. She can step away and keep her sanity intact. Sometimes fashion can get a little bit crazy. 

I don't know where this image is from but it says Phoebe Philo par David Sims styled by Camilla Nickerson so I'm thinking Vogue Paris, but if anyone can enlighten me I would be most, most welcome. This is the kind of dressing I am loving right now. Big, oversized woollen skivvies and tailored jackets, easy, drapey jersey skirts, messy, slightly balliaged hair, no make up at all. Philo is so natural, so easy, it's hard to imagine as a punk in her teens (which, by her own admission she was). She is a walking testament to the evolution of style over time. I know I'm only 19 and I have a long way to go, and who knows whether I'll still be channelling minimalism in a 6 months, a year's time. But you know what, the more I think about it, the more I feel this is a change for good. As I move away from excessive consumption and towards true, classic, unhindered style, I feel physically lighter. And though this is pure speculation, I imagine I feel a bit like Phoebe Philo did when she took a step back from the fashion world. You can get caught up in Fashion's schizophrenia, a "form of ugliness so intolerable we have to alter it every 6 months", as Oscar Wilde said. I feel that many stylists and fashion stars are a victim to fashion's vicious, repetitive cycle. Judging by my current style mindset and my most recent purchases - a nice big Marant coat, a gary bigeni oversized tee shirt in silk and cotton and a maniamania cuff on sale - I have left the cycle behind. 

And what is left? Me - with a little help from Phoebe Philo.

X



p.s and now I truly, truly promise there will be no more philo/celine posts for a week... at least! love!

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