Designer Gabriela Hearst unveiled her first collection for Chloé yesterday, one hundred years to the day of founder Gaby Aghion’s birth. The fall 2021 collection is inspired by the brand’s continued commitment to sustainability and the greater good of society as a whole. The concept of moving forward emerges through a subtlety in design and every piece was created with purpose in mind.
Aghion herself was once quoted as saying “there was no luxury ready-to-wear; well-made clothes with quality fabrics and fine detailing did not exist”, and as the show began with this quote, the brand emphasizes its commitment to quality and workmanship. Throughout the collection, knitwear and woven pieces are seen in soft marbled colors with a slightly irregular form, all handmade in a Parisian workshop.
Emblematic House codes are reimagined like the scalloped detailing that Aghion used in her 1960 show. The detailing appears on RTW as well as a leather handbag called the Juana Bag. Hearst also introduces a new version of an old classic for her debut.
The designer’s first luxury bag was a Chloé Edith bag, and fittingly enough the show featured 50 vintage Edith bags that were repurposed with leftover materials from the collection. Each piece is unique, and these appear alongside new Edith reissues, which include a mini version, a tote and a doctor’s bag.
Other new styles include hand-knit leather totes which are finished with a wooden C made from recycled materials. The subtle branding detail is hand-knit into the handle. The bags are a stark contrast from Hearst’s predecessor, proving that there’s a new Chloé in town. View bags from the runway below.
[images via Chloé]
This is a train wreck. Into a tent community.
There is such a small group of people these bags would appeal to at the typical Chloe price point. I think this debut is a bit of a mess.
Some of the more simple bags are nice; this collection proves that more is not always more
Oh no… what a disaster. I’m a Chloe girl through and through (lost track of how many Chloe bags I have) but all of these – with the exception of the knotted hobo in slide 4 – are HIDEOUS and a total 180 from the amazing direction the brand has been going in the last several years.
I couldn’t agree more. This is such a disappointment. Why in the h*ll would I pay $1500+ for a bag that looks like it’s made from woven plastic pool noodles? At least I have my many Chloe bags from when Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney and Hannah MacGibbon were at the helm and a few after that but these, as well as as several recent collections, will be an easy PASS. Thankfully, I still have and love all of my Paddingtons, Ediths, Bay bags, Silverados, etc., when, imo, Chloe bags were truly at their best. They may have an obvious “timestamp” but I’m ok with that. I really hope this isn’t the direction Chloe is headed. Hedi Slimane killed (Y)SL so I guess anything is possible.
I’m a Chloé girl, too….but not after this. I’ll just wear the ones I have, and use this opportunity to buy from other favorite designers. I’m really sad about this collection and direction.
It has a bohemian, but antiquated 60’s hippy vibe. “Awful” is too kind of a word to describe this collection.
What a mess….
I really like the woven hobo. I just wish the Ediths wouldn’t look so…. pre-owned.
They were actually pre-owned. The ones in the show are vintage ones that were re-purposed with the leftover materials they used for the clothes. They are one-of-a-kind pieces.
The actual Ediths that will be available for sale will be brand new 🙂
I thought it was a redo of the alice- neither were popular because the shapes were not particular functional. These versions are just uglier. I do love that braided hobo though!
The round-ish bags in pictures 3 and 4 are my favorites in this collection.
I loved the Edith back in it’s original rendition. I wish they didnt add all that…STUFF to it *sigh*
Honestly such a disappointment. Chloe had such a great aesthetic and were one of the few brands that look like they still “designed” bags. There’s nothing here that’s innovative or standout. The repurposed Edith bags have all of the wear and tear and no new charm. All the new bags look like wacky art teacher aesthetic and while that style, and the wacky people who ascribe to it, can charming I can’t see anyone paying 4-digits for a bag you can get for $30 at a flea market.
I’d say this was almost as bad as Hedi for Celine, and that’s saying a lot. The only saving grace is that the clothes are decent.
Good lord what a disgrace. The only bag that COULD be something to work with is the woven hobo (if it weren’t so ginormous)… but then I think, how unoriginal to copy Bottega like every other designer lately it seems ????? That’s why I’ll stick with the OG new bottega; at least they’re investment pieces as opposed to choe which has zero resale value.
I don’t understand at all. Such a big mess
I have never considered myself the Chloe customer. After seeing this mess, now I KNOW I’m not.
This shows Chloe moving in the WRONG Direction
Me too ?
If Chloe threw up then we get Gabrielle Hearst Chloe bags ???? atrocious
Clothes are beautiful, bags are all kinds of hideous.
Sorry, its a big NO for me!!!!!!
What a nightmare. All I need to do is have arts and crafts with one of my old Chloe bags. Horrible
yikes, its sad more people don’t like Chloe. I have 2 Chloe’s and they are some of the best made bags I’ve ever had. Some of the bags above look like a small child’s art project. Quite unfortunate.
Yikes!!!???
????? one word: NO!
It’s been a long time since I’ve literally gasped from seeing something shockingly hideous, but sadly I just did. I love my Chloe Tess bag, but I’m a little embarrassed to be a Chloe fan now.
They seem like Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta had an wild ugly child while Chloe looked on. Can all designers leave the padded and braided leather to BV? l wanted to add a Chloe piece to my collection and was waiting for the new aesthetic but I guess I will get an earlier Marcie or a paddington now
Not sure what happened here. I barely recognize these bags as G. Hearst’s designs. Not a good direction for Chloe or the designer.
When it came to the juncture of hit and miss, this did a big ol swerve down miss street. Horrible i’m sad to say. Chloe used to be refined with some casual cool whimsy. This is just a dogs breakfast.
It’s a NO for me!
I can’t see the bags well enough against the busy fabric of the garments. What a shame.
JFC What a mess no thankya