Charles Anastase spring 2011

Do you think it might be possible to invent a quick cure for gastric flu? Sickness overshadowed my Saturday and stopped me from attending the one show I was really looking forward to. Age from My Beautiful City had been extremely kind and provided a ticket. I needed no persuasive encouragement and immediately accepted despite the fact that I usually prefer to avoid the fuss and fanfare of fashion weeks. I find that they normally dissolve into absurdity which is why I genuinely enjoy looking at the reports online, cherry-picking and finding styles that suit me from the calm of my own home! Regular readers will know that I love Charles Anastase. The one occasion I have to jump into his universe and I miss it. Devil germs. I had to renounce getting out of the house and settled for my usual pragmatic approach: Internet viewing.
Charles Anastase’s French roots seem to offer a constant source of inspiration and this collection is a remarkable example of this. His mastery of the “petite enfant sage” or romantic old-school bourgeoise girl from the 16th arrondissement in Paris is the successful and very precise identity he has established in the past few years (except for the autumn/winter 2009/10 which was a small diversion from his habitual and judicious use of nostalgic sophistication). Step into his world and be prepared for a blaze of pure visual enchanting and mysterious excitement. I sometimes find myself thinking that he is reinterpreting the elemental forms of some of the costumes Chantal Goya wore when I was growing up (French speakers will know who I’m talking about but otherwise go to YouTube or here. I just adore his consistent vision and his predisposition to explore puritanical and slightly perverse references at the same time. Peter Pan collars, full skirts, classic pencil skirts and blouses, deliciously innocent smock dresses and a variety of lovely details such as muted colours, transparent fabrics, metallic foil, cascades of summery flowers and the fundamentally Charles Anastase super high chunky platform shoes. A desirable collection and opportunity for serious contemplation! Oh, and pay attention to the perfect hair…



Pictures courtesy of Style.com / Collage July Stars