Celine draws inspirations from streets of Paris

Celine draws inspirations from streets of Paris

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Streets in a city are what veins are for the heart. Like veins
that carry blood to the heart, keeping the body alive, streets
make a city throb with life.

Famous fashion house Celine capitalized on this fact of life
in its Spring and Summer 2003 collection. Drawing inspiration
from the charming streets of Paris with its sidewalk cafes and
magnificent buildings, the house designed two special lines for
the season: the Poulbot bag and the Paris Macadam collection.

Named after the street kids of Montmarte, the Poulbot
collection represents a young, fresh, sweet yet very Parisian
style that is both smart and elegant.

The name Poulbot itself is derived from painter Francisque
Poulbot, who was famous for his illustrations of children playing
in the streets of Montmarte. His works were published between
1900 and 1930.

"It is perfect for those who want a young look ... like
today's artists Britney Spears or Christina Aguillera," Cicilia
King, Celine's public relations executive, said during last
week's launching of the products at its boutique at Plaza
Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The Poulbot shoulder bag is carried tucked under the arm, the
way a Parisian carries a newspaper or a child hiding a toy from
view.

Celine creative director Michael Kors designed the bag with
curves and shapes following the human body. Its edges are closed
with rivets and then cobbled and finished like a pair of
watertight shoes.

"The rivets were inspired by the cobbled stones in the streets
of Paris," Cicilia added.

Suede and calfskin were used as the main materials.

The colors are rich and fresh like nature in springtime. The
suede bag comes in the bold bright tones of magenta and tangerine
as well as more soothing shades of khaki and nutmeg.

Similarly, Celine's Paris Macadam gives the streetwear a
fresh, casual and sporty style. The collection is a tribute to
John Loudon McAdam, dubbed Macadam, who discovered tarmac, which
was first laid on the streets of Paris in 1854.

The Paris Macadam collection includes a signature casquette or
gamine cap, three handbags, a pair of wooden clacquettes, a vest
and a belt made of a blue and ecru cotton jean twill, patterned
with the Celine blazon. The collection perfectly suits young
women living in the fast track who are always on the go.

It starts with a Poulbot bag. The Poulbot bag in the Paris
Macadam collection is made from denim and is trimmed with brown
leather and brass rivets, giving an independent and audacious
look.

The gamine cap is probably the top feature of the collection.
Recalling the spirit of the 1970s, the cap is perfect to wear in
hot summer weather.

A five-pocket vest and two-pocket belt inspired by cafe
garcons, a functional and sexy masculine-feminine duo were
designed for practical women. The vest and the belt can store a
modern woman's essentials: cellular phone, lipstick and
sunglasses.

The shoulder bag strengthens the street look, with its
crescent shape, and is worn draped across the chest to highlight
the casual look.

However, the outfit is not complete without the perfect
footwear, like the 1970s clacquettes. Extremely feminine, the
clacquettes come with generous wooden soles to walk on the beach
or the pavement.

With this collection, one can walk in style along the streets
of Paris, from Montmarte to the River Seine, or any charming
street that appreciates style.