A designer joins the canon of design greats after significantly contributing to the zeitgeist. There’s Christian Dior’s “New Look,” Stephen Burrows’ lettuce hem, Coco Chanel’s signature tweed, Alexander McQueen’s ‘savage beauty’ — and, well, now we’d like to add Phoebe Philo to that pantheon for her understated luxury design sensibilities. Philo is the former creative director of Céline — referred to now as “old Céline” — who like the Avatar, has vanished from the fashion public and honestly we miss her (insert crying face emoji). When she presented her first collection as creative director her clean, minimal aesthetic introduced a uniquely practical way of dressing, very much a quiet luxury. Since her absence many brands have carried the torch in line with Philo’s design ethos but we still miss our girl.
From iconic fashion moments, lasting trends and those infamous Stan Smith — let’s recount all the ways in which we miss Phoebe Philo:
Phoebe made Stan Smiths cool:
Philo is known for her understated luxury, so it isn’t surprising she made the case for Stan Smith sneakers, which in turn created a wave of fashion girls and boys rocking the Adidas classic silhouette. And we’re still rocking them to this very day!
That iconic blouse ‘Ye wore to Coachella:
Phoebe, like all great iconic designers, shifted the industry with her discerning taste and thus influenced the aesthetic of high street retailers with almost every collection. You couldn’t escape seeing garments inspired by this color-blocked shirt. This now iconic blouse from the Céline Spring/Summer 11′ collection is at this point forever etched in the consciousness of every fashion and pop culture lover. Kanye West (and years later so did Travis Scott) rocked it that same year as he took the stage at Coachella and the rest is, as we say is history.
The iconic Juergen Teller Ad Campaigns:
With a stellar casting lineup of model heavyweights like Daria Werbowy, Karly Loyce, Binx Walton, and Stella Tennant, Philo’s Céline-era ad campaigns live rent free in our mind. Shot by Juergen Teller, they were minimal, artsy and what the kids call it today, “aesthetically pleasing.”
The Luggage Tote Bag:
Okay when you talk about “It” bags, this one is easily in the top three. From Kim Kardashian to the Olsens, this bag was literally everywhere in the early 2010’s. The Celine Luggage Tote is arguably one of the most recognizable bags of modern handbag history. Facts are facts!
Her Fashion ‘Disciples’:
Long live the “Philophiles:” — a term dubbed by online platform Nowness in a satirical video where actors explain the tribe of the Phoebe Philo woman below, which pretty much sums up our point about Phoebe Philo being that girl.
So all in all, we miss Phoebe Philo and we can’t wait for the day she returns to the industry and takes all our money.
