Feb. 24, 2011-Milan-/FW/ Researched to the last detail, the Fall 2011 collection from Haute took its inspiration from the story of Papillon by Henri Charière. Based on the author’s life, Papillon starts off as a young gangster in 1930s Paris. Sentenced to life in prison, despite protesting his innocence, Papillon never lost his taste for freedom.
Catherine Brickhill and Marcus Constable, the creative directors behind the brand, evoked the deeper meaning of the story by bringing to life the fascinating atmosphere of 1930s Paris. Using leather geometric designs to exude modernity and optimistic energy, the collection also mixed draping, pleating, layering, and textures to bring out the unique mood of each piece.
By pleating eveningwear, Haute dressed down the looks and paired them with unstructured furs or utility coats. Sequins mixed with casual fabrics created easy-to-wear looks for any time of the day. Loose, easy silhouettes were most prominent, but never drowned the feminine shape. The color palette was mostly earthy, but unexpected splashes of bright orange and jade green made their way tactfully in as well.
Glamour and utility, soft and hard, optimism in the face of adversity.
[LINDSAY McCALLUM]
pictures by Megan Leahy
