Phoebe Philo for Celine. Take Two.

The New Celine
Cathy Horyn / NY Times

Yesterday, Phoebe Philo showed reporters and retailers a selection of clothes and accessories that will begin arriving in Celine stores in late November. It was the first glimpse here of Ms. Philo’s designs for the Paris-based company since she was hired last year. The low-key presentation was similar to one in Paris: a long rail of clothes in a Chelsea loft, with informal modeling, and Ms. Philo, dressed in olive fatigues, a black leather jacket and a putty silk blouse, chatting with small groups of guests. It was a smart way to introduce the collection—the isolated debut rather than the big Paris blowout. She’ll have a runway show in the fall.

In the years since Ms. Philo resigned from Chloé, to focus on her family in London, she’s had time to consider what’s relevant. “I’m also older,” she said yesterday. So are we. The central thing to know about her Celine clothes, which are terrific for a number of reasons, is that they reflect an every-day style. By that I mean they are clothes you want to wear every day, whether you work in an office or a gallery, part-time or at home. They answer the questions many women have about wanting to look good at work—appropriate—while still looking relaxed and casual. I’m not sure what Celine really means to American women, and I don’t really care, but I thought it interesting that Ms. Philo focused on sportswear—not dresses, not ball gowns, not girlish, what-do-I-do-with-this-now separates. She makes one of the strongest sportswear statements we’ve seen in some time. Read more of the article here