While much of the fashion world still mourns the departure of Phoebe Philo from her 10-year tenure at Céline (now Celine without the é and helmed by Hedi Slimane, an inimitable designer enticing an entirely different but equally enthusiastic consumer), there are green shoots for the malcontent.
Firstly, Peter Do: a designer who worked at Phoebe’s Céline and whose eponymous—super-slick—line is about to be launched by Net-a-Porter. Expect slouchy tailoring, undone shirting, asymmetric lines, and neutral hues—all very worthy of your hardworking wardrobe.
In addition, Bottega Veneta’s debut offering from the new creative director (and Céline alumnus) Daniel Lee was widely re-grammed when imagery went online back in November. The first collection is Pre-Fall 19 and therefore not available for another six months, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the jumbo leather intrecciato woven totes are going to be big news. “Is this a star-is-born scenario? A Philo replacement in the making? Too soon to call. When women walk in the Fall show in February, we’ll see more,” says Sarah Mower, Vogue.com’s chief critic. “But from what was in evidence in this showroom, after only a couple of months’ work, there are substantial, well-made clothes here that would make a customer want to reach for them in a shop. And just enough borderline ridiculousness in the accessories to turn that bourgeois look into proper fashion fun.”