In The Bag: A Deep Dive Into The World Of CELINE’s Stance On Understated Luxury
Class act
If ever there was a label to take you beyond the banal act of getting dressed, it has got to be CELINE. Founded in Paris in 1945 by Céline Vipiana, the iconic Maison may have dropped its accent some five years ago, though remains a luxury label marked by French ‘It-girl’ status – the brand’s blueprint defined by impeccable design, effortless silhouettes, and a quiet luxury offering.
A symbol of modernism and sophistication, CELINE (owned by the LVMH group since 1996) is a brand that is forever introducing us to items we didn’t know we needed but now can’t live without in a way that feels organic, free of force, and brash commercialisation. A fashion House seeped in an idea as simple as it sounds: looking polished by dressing subtly, simply, and in an effortless way that exudes luxury without the obvious markers. Just simple logos, neutral shades, and classic tailoring. More polished than normcore and softer in structure than minimalism, CELINE’s artistic and creative director Hedi Slimane (who dropped the accent in 2018 and is known for famously cutting ‘Yves’ from ‘Yves Saint Laurent’ in 2012) has continued to bring simplicity to the forefront in a way that’s equally fresh, new, and timeless all at once, without bowing to trend cycles, fads, or momentary hype.
And it is this inconspicuous affect – that of the no-fuss aesthetic which resonates with the modern day woman – that draws you in. In essence, CELINE is hallmarked by well-made staples that don’t shout their provenance, but rather quietly communicates a low-key, but undeniably high-end, inclination of unfussiness, and Brisbane is the latest city privy to experience that status.
In anticipation of CELINE’s first foray into Brisbane with a pop-up store in QueensPlaza from 18 May to 12 July, the French fashion House will showcase a range of leather goods and accessories ready for purchase. Sitting alongside a cluster of prolific luxury houses including Chanel, Fendi, Bvlgari, and Dior, this is an obvious step in the right direction for the Parisian label, who’s only presence in Queensland consists of a concession store in David Jones at Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast. Though with the highly anticipated Queen’s Wharf opening set for late 2023 and LVMH securing 16 free-standing stores within, it would be fair to say a permanent placement within our city is not completely out of the realm.
Now, in its modern era with Slimane at the helm, CELINE continues to remind us of the eternally cool power of Parisian style – a put together effortlessness, a visceral embodiment of the French term, je ne sais quoi – perfectly carried by the likes of Dree Hemmingway and Kaia Gerber with their innate sense of nonchalance and charisma; as quietly confident in a pair of well fitting trousers and oversized shirt as in a backless silk dress with a black leather Triomphe slung over her shoulder. Such is the power of simplicity.
Header imagery: Suzanne Lindon photographed by Hedi Slimane for CELINE
