In the prelude to Chloé’s spring/summer 2021 show, live footage of models making their way to the runway was cast onto massive screens. Some strolled the surrounding streets of Paris, others milled about on bridges and steps, taking photos and chatting animatedly. It was a deliberate decision that showcased the clothes out and about in the real world, away from the glare of the catwalk.
Indeed the collection—which eventually streamed into the courtyard of the Palais de Tokyo—was made for real life. Chloé has long been an arbiter of French-girl chic, and this line lived up to its name. There were breezy spaghetti-strap dresses, tunics cinched with wide belts, chunky sandals, boho blouses and subtly flared trousers—all in delicious colour combinations like sweet peach and dusky lilac.
What set this collection apart, though, were pieces proudly splashed with slogans by American poet Corita Kent. An ivory shift dress was emblazoned with “Hope”, while a colour-blocked sweater proclaimed, “I can handle it”.
And so in a nod to these times, Chloé served up not just fashion to live in—but also words to live by.
