Memo from the Editor: For the Love of Céline

I'm just going to say it: All women want to be mothers. Everywhere in the blogosphere, all you see are seas of women and gay men toting their latest Céline in the streets of Paris. To me this phenomenon, I think it's safe to say, is more than explanatory. The moment people see for themselves the Phoebe Philo aesthetic of clean-cut, no-fuss (for God's sake not even the seams show!) garments, they swoon. And who better to describe the ideal Céline woman than Philo herself, whom she is constantly quoted saying that she just designs for busy lifestyle. Observing Mrs. Philo, there's a deep desire to be her. If you've seen or read any of her scarce interviews and came across her very domestic alter ego, there's instantly an "aawwww" moment that arises. After taking a considerable amount of time off from fashion to tend to her newborn, Philo is back with a new perspective: motherhood.

In the clothes, you can sense her matronly touch. Who doesn't strive to pick up her kids in a sleek ponytail and looking fresh? I can only wonder that someone who wears so little is nothing but confident and reassured. She's got the man, the ring, and the baby. If you think about it, all that superfluous knick-knack Nicolas Ghesquière puts out on the runway (no offense) adds to the desperate woman who wants nothing more than to attract a mate. In the core sense of it all, don't we all just want to settle down?

Sophia Coppola also sets an example for women in their prime. She's respected in her own industry and has a great family. She also is the truly envied woman, and to me exudes the same simplicity and confidence Philo puts forth in her designs. I know I may be oversimplifying things and bypassed about ten Freudian concepts, but I genuinely believe that the end-all for all women is to be happy in a relationship (children optional). No more going out to bars to find "the one" because he's lying right at home. Perhaps by walking the walk (in this case, wearing that A-line dress), we can all snag that man.

John Kim
Editor-in-Chief
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2 comments:

  1. To be honest with you, I do not like this article one bit. The way it is written really stereotypes women.

    First of all, although perhaps it may be a biological instinct to want children, not all woman want to be mothers. I am a woman, I do not want to have children. Also, "She's got the man, the ring, and the baby." <- Gross. Seriously? These are not what all women today strive for, especially strong, modern, independent women.

    "Who doesn't strive to pick up her kids in a sleek ponytail and looking fresh?" Not me. Oh what a life- looking fab to pick up children!

    "...adds to the desperate woman who wants nothing more than to attract a mate. In the core sense of it all, don't we all just want to settle down?" Nope.

    This article as a whole really contributes to the stereotype that the ultimate goal of women is to marry a man and have children which may be true for some but not all.

    I know this article is about fashion, but I can't even focus on it's true content because I am so angered/disgusted at the light it is portraying women.

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  2. Agree with the above comment that there are some pretty generalizing statements in this post, but I do think the women selected to be spoken about in the post are exemplary in a good way - that they are working mothers who continue to push ahead in their fields. I like that the post discusses that these designers think about designing in perhaps a more practical way now, now that they live with the added activity with a new baby in their lives. That is definitely an important perspective to bring to fashion for the many women who do decide to have kids.

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