Phoebe Philo is Back
In November, the adored designer Phoebe Philo launched her long-awaited new label to glowing reviews.
It was hard to imagine that the reception would be anything other than positive. With one of the most loyal fan bases in fashion, Phoebe’s 6-year hiatus never put off the true fans, who have eagerly awaited this release.
Phoebe Philo formerly designed for Chloé and Celine, and her minimal, yet still playful, cool-girl aesthetic cemented her as a design icon. Her faithful followers actually registered for updates about the relaunch all the way back in July, and on October 30th, they received the long-awaited update that it was here. The brand is hugely cashing in on the elitism and exclusivity that keep high fashion brands at the top of everyone's wish list. With the pre-registration opening via an Instagram post 4 months early (which was later removed), and the drop landing on her own website exclusively, online circles simmered with anticipation. The brand’s model leans into this, saying in their own words that they will be producing "notably less than anticipated demand."
The excitement and expectancy couldn’t have been higher. After 2 years of total silence from Phoebe herself, and so much time spent waiting and wondering after the eventual announcement that she would be releasing her own collection, the feeling of being ‘in the know’ or ‘special’ to be part of the dramatic journey has been sure to keep those loyal fans invested. As with things that receive so much hype, there was always a risk that she couldn’t live up to her own projection. Or was there? It seems that Phoebe Philo has never had a moment of doubt that her new collection would be gobbled up. She was certainly in no rush to release it and doesn’t even feel the crushing pressure of the fashion cycle that pretty much every other designer, big or small, feels they must submit to. No, she will be releasing collections outside of the traditional fashion seasons: A1 in October, A2 in Spring 2024, and A3 at a yet-to-be-announced date. It rings of the familiar stories of musical geniuses who released things they were told they couldn’t, said what they were told they shouldn’t, and flouted the ‘rules’ of fame to do what they, in their unique and misunderstood wisdom, knew they needed to do. Their willingness to be different not only created incredible art but set them ahead of the pack, with authenticity bringing in real, devoted fans. Already, the brand's Instagram has had all its posts archived… is Phoebe Philo a genius?
