Here's What Hedi Slimane Has to Say to Critics of His Celine Debut
“Does this mean women are no longer free to wear miniskirts if they wish?”
Hedi Slimane‘s debut show for Celine at Paris Fashion Week was one that generated many a headline. From Phoebe Philo fans lamenting the loss of the “old Céline,” to critics describing the collection as “a gust of toxic masculinity,” there’s been a heated debate on the designer’s entry to the French label. Speaking to France’s TMC channel in an interview earlier this week, Slimane revealed in email quotes what he really thought about some of the criticism that he’s received over the runway show.
Slimane was quoted,
“It’s always very jarring and I always feel like people are talking about someone else. Besides, the spirit of the show was light and joyful, but lightness and insouciance are being called into question these days. I’ve already been through this at Saint Laurent … You’re dealing with politics, conflicts of interest, cliques, a predictable attitude, but also staggering exaggerations of conservatism and puritanism, Violence is a reflection of our time – the rabble-rousing spirit of social networks, despite the fact that they are a formidable community tool. There are no longer any limits, hatred is amplified and takes over.”
In regards to the short dresses he sent down the runway, as well as the Hollywood Reporter review that associated him with Donald Trump, the Celine artistic, creative and image director said,
“Does this mean women are no longer free to wear miniskirts if they wish? The comparisons to Trump are opportunistic, rather bold and fairly comical, just because the young women in my show are liberated and carefree. They are free to dress as they see fit.”
On succeeding Phoebe Philo, who spent a decade reinventing Celine as the go-to brand for the modern, intellectual woman, Slimane commented,
“For some in America, I also have the poor taste of being a man who is succeeding a woman. You could read into that a subtext of latent homophobia that is quite surprising. Is a man drawing women’s collections an issue?”
It is reported that the statements above are only an extract of Slimane’s full interview, and that more of his responses will be included in an upcoming episode of 5 Minutes de Mode by Loïc Prigent.
For those who still find themselves thinking about the controversial Celine show, read about how industry insiders feel about the debate.
