After a sell-out debut, Phoebe Philo has quietly returned to drop off her second eponymous edit, titled "A2." Building on its predecessor, this latest lineup sees the prolific "Old Celine" designer put forth a mature, womanly manifesto across ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories.
Like the first launch, Philo invited a small group of editors to the brand's London headquarters — a native atelier that adheres to the “perfectionist standards” of those in Paris, as Vogue previously described it — for a preview of the line earlier this month. Though the designer was not present for the intimate event herself, she did leave a fact sheet with all the necessary information about the collection, which she "characterized from the get-go as a continuous body of work," per WWD.
The line experiments with proportions, setting a dropped-waist leather jacket in a dark berry tone against an ultra-cropped bomber in a mastic hue. Oversized trousers, doused in "salt and pepper" colors, house strong centerfolds that run high above the waist, and upright collared shirts button tight at the neck with raised collars.
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Double-breasted Milanese jackets flaunt the designer's crisp tailoring expertise, and hand-combed embroidered trousers are pure fun, with glossy black viscose twill. Coats, made with the same textile play, see Philo expand her tonal rolodex in a bright "candy floss" hue, while dropped-waist vests embrace utilitarianism with several multi-purpose pockets. Notably, the former ensemble's price is only available upon request.
In footwear, Philo's offerings include a soft square-toe pump, an ankle boat with a similarly angular shape and a shiny club loafer. The most exciting of the lot is a high-tassel mule, which previously appeared in the designer's teaser campaign.
As for accessories, the popular "MUM" necklace is back, and it's also available as a bracelet, too. Scarves are constructed as pillows, wrapping around their wearers' heads with an avant-garde facade; and sunglasses, including the "Peak" and "Bombé" frames, make statements with face-shielding builds. Bags are Philo's speciality, with the Cabas, Bean Bag and Drive Bag arriving in all sorts of finishes, spanning cheetah print and plushy purple to lipstick red and strong neutrals.
Anatomy of a Fall's Sandra Hüller stars in the campaign, sporting the line's turtlenecks, tailored trousers and sharp eyewear. In her notes, Philo called the actress "one of the most formidable talents of her generation, renowned for her intimate, intelligent and fearless performances on stage and screen.” Ukrainian model Daria Werbowy, who starred in the designer's first campaign and often appeared in her Celine imagery, returns to promote this collection, too.
To top it off, Philo's notes confirmed that a third edit will be revealed this fall.
Philo's second edit is now available to shop on the brand's wesbtore, with additional deliveries scheduled through March, April and May. Prices range from $450 USD to $9,200 USD, with shipping available to the U.K., Europe and the United States. Take a closer look at the line in the gallery above.
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