FOLLOWING a medieval men’s show set atop the Château de Chambord in Loire, Hedi Slimane debuted his AW21 women’s collection for Celine at the 17th-century Château de Vaux-Le Vicomte, an hour south of Paris.
Set to the electronic soundtrack of Regina Demina’s Un Daydream, the cinematic virtual show was dedicated to the younger generation and their experience of lockdown.
Amid the baroque grandeur of the André Le Nôtre gardens, models strode forth in British country staples styled in Slimane’s signature bourgeois way.
Tweed shooting jackets and herringbone trench coats were worn atop sporty crop tops and pussy-bow blouses styled over Sloane-y straight-leg denim and hunting boots.
Peppered among the heritage pieces, dazzling minidresses, sequin-embellished track pants, and billowing pleated skirts injected a thrilling touch of fantasy, giving way to the collection’s pièce de résistance; a series of glittering metallic crinolines cleverly designed to echo the central dome of the château.
Two excellent brown leather bags – the Romy and the Tabou – were introduced in the lineup, perched over the arms of olive parkas and oversized tailoring. Joined by an array of wristlet pouches, curved half-moon styles and supple hobos, they’re sure to be catnip for the Maison’s devoted clientele.
The film ended with a model, flanked by deer, dressed in a gorgeous bell skirt, gazing over the lake to the dramatic eruption of colourful fireworks – the perfect conclusion to a masterfully executed collection that will undoubtedly go down as one of Slimane’s finest.
by Joshua Hendren