An International Woman – Chloe A/W 2010-2011 Collection

Mention Hannah McGibbon a few months ago and I probably would’ve feigned a slight nod of recognition and steered the conversation towards Chloe’s efforts in the fragrance department and ad campaigns rather than the label’s design endeavours. But after Paris A/W 2010 I cant stop talking about her. The 70′s inspired camel tones are romantic, nostalgic and create an “Autumn in The City” dream sequence that I’ve fallen in love with. The runway style re-creates soft glamour and femininity, with designs that drape and fit loosely around the frame creating ease of movement and comfort in tweeds, toile, prince of wales checks, satin and, fabric of the moment, cashmere.

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Capes in the fall 2010 pret-a-porter collection sit well alongside the full length cashmere camel coats of the runway taking us from playful autumn wraps to devastatingly luxurious winter outerwear, whilst the pussy bow silk blouse looks demure but creates an irresistibly elegant and feminine alternative to the office blouse. Couture can sometimes be intimidating or overwhelming to the everyday woman, and that’s part of its appeal, but this collection really seems to move at your pace, compliments your lifestyle and wants to flatter your figure to make you feel timeless.

But what I embrace most of all is the return of the tailored trouser! Oh how I have missed you in the midst of the omnipresent legging that just refuses to go away… To my delight, this season, Chloe offers a high waisted design that flares beautifully, not cinching too tightly at the waist, creating a seamless stunning drape that elongates a tall frame, or creates height for smaller petite girls like myself. I always feel a little self conscious in my sky high heels but this design permits the more daring footwear in my wardrobe to be reborn in a new age of Catherine Deneuve elegance, as the trouser lengths skim the floor almost like a gown.

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Furthermore, the flared trouser does not necessitate a skinny model figure. It flatters every woman due to a looser cut providing a more comfortable fit suitable for office/ uni/ nights out/ nights in, but transcends a femininity originated in masculine dress that does not lean on power dressing to make its point.

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Finding a style that sits sexily around the hips and creates a tighter fit around the derrière, is not always an easy task, but is a necessity. Failure to do so results in a shapeless silhouette detrimental to the desired tailored look. And if you’re as spellbound by McGibbon’s A/W 2010 collection as I am , you’ll be looking for nude tones, frosted browns, caramels and camel shades to place the look firmly in a high fashion bracket. Keep the make up low key and smouldering, by reluctantly ditching the eye-liner and mascara in favour of a smoky and subtle eye-shadow, with a touch of blush to maintain a fresh and healthy glow. Described by Raquel Zimmerman, the face of the campaign, as “the collection for the chic and smart international woman”, Hannah McGibbon has achieved this year, what Lagerfeld and Balenciaga did for me last year- inspire my imagination and drive my creativity, proving that Autumn is still my favourite style season of the year.