admin Phoebe Philo’s long-awaited return to fashion has landed.
On Oct. 30, the designer — who’s mostly stayed out of the spotlight since exiting Celine (formerly known as Céline) in 2017 — debuted her namesake direct-to-consumer luxury brand, which received a minority investment from her former bosses, LVMH. The inaugural collection spans ready-to-wear and accessories, which feature many of the hallmarks that have gained her a cult following in fashion: smart tailoring, luxurious knits, elegant draping, measured oversized shapes. Prices start at $450 for eyewear and go up to $12,000 for a tasseled bomber (though some outerwear is price upon request); apparel starts at $1,100 for leggings and rib-knit turtlenecks. And yes, pieces are already selling out.
The path to launch hasn’t exactly been smooth. The brand was first announced in the summer of 2021 (with rumors about the venture dating back to early 2020), with more specifics expected in January 2022. January 2022 came and went, and we wouldn’t hear more about it until February 2023, when a launch date was confirmed for September 2023. In July, phoebephilo.com opened for pre-registration.
When September rolled around, there was mostly nothing from the Phoebe Philo camp. (Lauren Sherman reported on what was happening behind the scenes in between, from scraped concepts to personnel changes, for Puck’s Line Sheet.) Around that time, though, Iman’s accusations against Philo of racism, which date back to the designer’s time at Céline, began resurfacing and reignited conversations about who the industry chooses to uplift and support, regardless of bad behavior.
Then, on Sept. 30, the last day of the month, we got an update: Phoebe Philo would launch on Oct. 30.
(There are conflicting reports as to when Philo’s birthday is — some say Oct. 25, some say Jan. 1. That mystery, plus the fact that the big reveal is happening during Scorpio season, makes me believe it’s the latter.)
See and shop the collection at phoebephilo.com.
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