Gold metal disks resembling suns basked the Chloé venue in a soft, yellow glow as the models walked down a sand-colored runway. Creative Director Clare Waight Keller had set the scene for a “high summer feeling”, as the show notes indicated, but she wasn’t just referring to the venue.
For her Spring/Summer 2014 collection, Waight Keller worked with an impressive array of fabrics, pleating and quilting them into multiple dimensions, all the while aiming for an air of effortless, breezy opulence. Knitwear was kept incredibly light and chiffon-thin, while silk was presented in accordion pleats that bounced and moved of their own accord. Billowing sleeves, flowing hemlines, sheer materials, and knotted fabric in the place of sleeves added to the fluidity of the presentation.
For all its airiness and movement, the collection retained a surprising amount of structure. Shirts were presented with angular shoulders, paper-bag waistlines stood to attention, and blazers were streamlined. The strict palette of whites, blues, and khakis was a perfect reminder of summers spent by the sea and allowed the cuts and fabric to do all the talking. A sprinkling of gold added a touch of dressed-up elegance, while a series of chain-linked pieces towards the end of the presentation offered perfect eveningwear options for a night out on the coast.
While Clare Waight Keller’s choice of footwear might not be everyone’s cup of tea, the bags she presented – roomy, cross-body bags in an array of colors – will be the perfect accompaniment to your travel wardrobe next season.
Photos: Courtesy of GoRunway
