Rock aesthetics in fashion draws one name – Hedi Slimane. Throughout his career, the designer has brought the aesthetic to the houses where he was installed as creative director. Now at Celine, Slimane has entered into the Age of Indieness, elevating his trademark rock aesthetic into one that is derived from the noughties indie sleaze era.
While noughties fashion has made a serious comeback of late, Slimane is trailblazing the trend to incorporate the rock aesthetic from the era. For the Winter 22 collection, the designer took the famous French House to The Wiltern in Los Angeles – an art deco movie institution that has seen many great performers, from Prince and The Rolling Stones to Amy Winehouse and many others.
Celine presented its Winter 23 show in a co-ed style, which has become a norm in the industry as it looks towards breaking the barriers between the gendered fashion. Slimane took Indie Sleaze and gave it his slim, fitted silhouette treatment.
For this collection, the designer put tailoring at the fore. The show opened with a suit that presented undertones of indieness thanks to its gold buttons that ran from collar to hem, while fringed accessories and a bohemian slouchy leather bag, and riding boots brought together Sliman’s famous rock star chic. Elsewhere the collection featured faux fur jackets that dazzled with gold feathers. Jeans were classic Slimane – as skinny as they could possibly be, while leather boy jackets were paired with another Slimane trademark – tight leather pants. To put it plainly, the collection is filled with Slimane’s design DNA.
For menswear, the designer encapsulated the core of indie sleaze. The standout piece, which is probably the star boy of this collection, is a red blazer fitted with gold trims. Loose ties were paired with undone shirts worn beneath checkered car coats. It was a homage to rock music.
Celine’s Winter 23 collection is everything we have come to love about Slimane. The collection is laden with the designer’s DNA, visible throughout from the very first piece to the last, and everything in between.
