Relatively new to the haute couture scene, Celine has made huge strides since the end of World War I as the sweetheart of modern French fashion. Originally concentrating on producing high quality children's shoes, the designer revamped its approach in 1960 and launched lines of women's ready-to-wear and leather goods.
Celine was created in 1945 by Céline Vipiana and her husband Richard. The brand started out as a made-to-measure children’s shoe business, making it the first of it’s kind.
The repositioning in the 1960s would prove fortunate as the designer collections released by Celine in the 1960s resonated with clients and established the brand as a rising star among fashion greats, leading to further success throughout the rest of the twentieth century and lasting allure for vintage designer enthusiasts. Despite its relatively rapid climb to the heights of haute couture, the brand has been able to benefit from highly in demand creative direction such as Michael Kors and Phoebe Philo, marking Celine pieces as treasures for anyone familiar with designer luxury. Celine incorporates youthful elements into its clean-cut designs, making the brand's offerings contemporary favorites with retro appeal and preventing Celine collections from ever feeling stuffy or old-fashioned. The designer draws inspiration from Parisian landmarks and keeps its essential French flair central to its overall vision. With sleek bags and playful accessories, Celine represents the modern yet classic perspective on French girl style, giving each collector the opportunity to partake in the carefree je ne sais quoi associated with the designer. A carefully chosen handbag, top, or fragrance elevates an ensemble to new heights, injecting an outfit with a healthy dose of structured timelessness with just a hint of edge.
Céline Vipiana remained the designer until 1997 and after her came known American designer Michael Kors. When he left the French house in 2004, Italian designer Roberto Menichetti was appointed as creative director and a year later Croatian designer Ivana Omazic was in charge of the design studio. Omazic designed for Celine until 2008 where Phoebe Philo became the new creative director. She was awarded both Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council and International Designer of the Year by Council of Fashion Designers of America for her work at Celine. Hedi Slimane is the latest artistic, creative and image director at Celine as he joined the house in 2018, after Phoebe Philo left.