Chloé Spring/Summer 2022 report
Elegant insouciance was the mood at Chloé’s Paris show.
Shown on the Quai de la Tournelle promenade on the left bank in Paris, Gabriela Hearst’s sophomore main collection for Chloé was inspired not by the views on land but from above.
Shared on the brand’s Instagram page, satellite imagery from European Space Imaging showing striking landscapes from Bolivia to Iceland called to attention the colour palette to come: vibrant desert orange, icy blues and a breadth of neutrals from sand to polar white.
Look one of 31 was familiar. Gillian Anderson wore the ivory silk crop top and skirt combination to the recent Emmy Awards where she won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. The ankle-length fringing that fell from the hemline of the top and over a bare midriff was embellished with recycled off-cuts from a jewellery supplier in Paris — a nod to Hearst’s preference for sustainability.
From then on, the array of looks serenely combined the bohemian DNA of Chloé spiked with the familiar nomadic style of Hearst’s eponymous brand. Textured weaving was incorporated into shoes and accessories; and a tie-dyed blue caftan nodded to Hearst’s Uruguayan heritage, as did the rich hues of burgundy, mustard and khaki.
The most striking look was a sleeveless multi-panelled napa leather dress in such hues, calling to be a statement piece all year-round.
There was not a bare leg in sight with demureness, shown through immaculate tailored suits and perfectly hemmed dresses, the key thought for Hearst’s summer to come.
As for accessories, the boho mood continued with macramé weaved pouches and beautiful leather clutch bags, monochromatically paired or styled to contrast.
One can certainly picture women walking throughout the Marais district wearing the footwear shown, without a stiletto heel in sight. Platformed sneakers and sandals were the picks in multiple textures, peeking out from underneath tailored trousers and long ribbed dresses.
Hearst’s latest collection for Chloé points to a new way of working for fashion brands coming out of pandemic shutdowns and disruptions. Reducing the number of runway looks to 31 (similar to a Resort collection) seems more manageable, more logical and truly gives back to the house’s identity of less is more.
