The Carven girl as imagined by designer Guillaume Henry is young, precious and Parisian at her core. Ever since Henry took the helm of the revived Carven label three years ago, we’ve kinda wanted to be that girl.
The collection stuck to Carven’s signature silhouettes–blazers with rounded lapels, girly dresses with tear-shaped cutouts, cropped sweaters with sharp little collars–but showed a moodier, darker palette. Perhaps the Carven girl is growing up.
FLORENCE–Yesterday we broke the news that beloved Parisian brand Carven plans to open it’s first store outside of Paris in NYC. And now we know where. Carven designer Guillaume Henry told us last night that New York’s own Carven will go up sometime this fall (presumably after Paris fashion week–so in late October) on Mercer and Grand, the former site of a grocery store. A chic upgrade, to be sure.
FLORENCE–At this morning’s press conference in advance of Carven’s presentation as the guest menswear designer for Pitti Uomo, designer Guillaume Henry let some very good news slip: he has plans to open a stand-alone Carven store in New York “soon.”
How soon, Henry wouldn’t say. But we’re hoping “soon” means within the year. As fans of the brand, we’re excited by the news but not totally surprised.
We’ve yet to walk away from seeing a Carven collection without wanting everything. Resort 2012 is no exception. Designer Guillaume Henri told us the playful, colorful collection was inspired by Peter Schlesinger’s A Checkered Past, a photo book documenting the ’60s and ’70s in London (which we now want–you can buy it here). “The photos Read more →
PARIS–We’ve made no effort to conceal our fondess for the recently revived Carven line, helmed by the talented (and adorable) Guillaume Henry. And today at the Jeu de Paume, Henry delivered, once again, a collection that inspired straight-up lust. It was Parisian-chic-goes-global and I wanted it all.
And that’s precisely the point. Henry wants every girl to see herself in these clothes.
David Beckham might not be a real designer in the way that his wife has turned out to be–but you’ll still be able to buy his clothes at H&M come fall, when his bodywear line (read: undies) launches.
So in honor of Becks and his flawless bod (not to mention chiseled jaw line) joining the fashion fray, we decided to round up all the hotties designing right now. There are really some good looking men out there making clothes for ladies. We couldn’t list them all, but here’s a start. Take a look:
If you weren’t already aware: We love Carven. Designer Guillaume Henry‘s transformation of the storied couture house into a very modern, very contemporary take on classic silhouettes is pretty much our favorite brand right now.
A few images of of the pre-spring collection were released a couple of weeks ago, but now we’ve got the complete look book. And clearly, we’re obsessed. Whether it’s the chartreuse schoolgirl jumper or the lemon yellow bow flats, there’s nothing we wouldn’t want to hang in our closet.
Click through to peep the complete collection.
Carven, the storied French fashion house revitalized in just two years by industry darling Guillaume Henry, might have to go public over the next year if its crazy sales growth continues.
Elle Denmark Likes Their Covergirls to Have Really Really Long Necks: Apparently homegirl on the right didn’t have a long enough neck. Don’t worry! Photoshop solves all physical imperfections. {The Gloss}
Naomi Campbell Opens a Pop-Up Shop for Charity: Naomi Campbell and her charity, Fashion for Relief, opened a pop-up shop in London stocked with gowns donated by designers like Givenchy, Christopher Kane, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham and Vivienne Westwood, with proceeds to benefit the Prince’s Trust charity–a charity that supports 14-30 year olds with practical and financial support to stay on track. In an interview with the soon-to-be-retired Hilary Alexander, Campbell says she’d love to open a permanent Fashion for Relief shop. {Telegraph}
Rumi Neely and Her Boyfriend Make a Noir Video: For Ralph Lauren Big Pony cologne. {Fashion Toast}
PARIS–”We wanted to invite people to an anonymous place like a French café– a bit messy but we like it messy because that’s real life–girls are not always super perfect” said Carven designer Guillaume Henry after his first “showtation” for the revived Paris couture house. Yes, you heard that right. That’s Henry’s fashion neologism for the way he showed Carven’s fall collection at the Palais de Tokyo this morning–half show half presentation. Showgoers sat as if at a Paris café, gathered around tiny round tables as models walked (very carefully) up and down stairs through doorways from behind a scrim, so that you could see the silhouettes of the clothes as they walked behind each doorway. It was very clever.
Guillaume Henry, the handsome designer behind the revival of French couture house Carven, just ended a whirlwind trunk show tour of the US, visiting Barneys New York locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and yesterday afternoon, the store’s Madison Ave flagship. This was the first time he’s been able to meet his American customers, a rabid fan base that has grown rapidly since the label relaunched at a contemporary price point in Spring 2010. (A quick fashion history lesson: Carven began as a Paris couture house in 1945, known in the 1950s for dressing royals.)
“What’s interesting is that they all wear Carven so differently in each city,” he told Fashionista yesterday. “They all want different things.”
And thus far, Henry’s been able to deliver, with a mix of refined wardrobe basics inspired by 1950s couture, the era in which Carven was initially so popular. “Many of the shapes we use–the cocoon shape, the ballerina–are from that time. But we’ve updated them to look modern,” he says. “Mrs. Carven wanted to be cool, and she was, but what was cool then is different from what is cool now. We want our clothes to be right for now.” So while he’s taken a peek into the archives to understand who the Carven lady was, those looks don’t entirely define who she currently is.
As for how the house is able to bring couture-like garments down to a contemporary price point?
