The Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley is one of the most recognisable castles in the world. Its design blends grand Renaissance style architecture with more traditional French medieval inspirations. In other words, it’s fancy and it’s French; the perfect location for Hedi Slimane’s CELINE FW21 collection.
‘TEEN KNIGHT POEM’ is the 9th collection Hedi Slimane has presented since his appointment at CELINE. Not only was the 13-minute film directed and styled by the French designer, Slimane also co-produced the soundtrack ‘Time Slip’ with brothers Jack and George Barnett.
Never one to be subtle, Slimane had models dramatically ride into the château on horseback, proudly parading black CELINE flags. The collection has a punk-inspired aristocratic feel to it, combining frilly shirts with leather bomber jackets. Alongside the location and the clothing presented, this film was a youth renaissance, it’s another way for Slimane to rid of the old and focus on the style of the present youth. As always, Slimane’s collection perfectly blended formal and casual wear. Some models presented skinny suits, while others were in more lounge-appropriate hoodies.
Hedi Slimane has always had a thing for craftsmanship. The film showcased a jacket that was made by over 23 different embroiderers, requiring over a thousand hours to create. In addition, he has put an emphasis on collaborative work, commissioning seven artists for a ‘TEEN KNIGHT POEM’ themed group show.
Slimane had a somewhat tough start to his tenure at CELINE. He was placed in a difficult position to reinvent CELINE after Phoebe Philo’s legacy. However, he has been able to not only see commercial success at the brand but appeal to a new and younger audience. In a recent article, we explored the designer’s transformation at the brand and how he ‘tapped into TikTok Fans and K-Pop stars’. This collection yet again proves that Slimane has his finger on the pulse of youth culture.
‘Teen Knight Poem’ perfectly encapsulated Hedi Slimane’s style ethos: French, dramatic and most importantly, fun.
Watch the full film below.
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