Chloé's creative director on how she stays below the radar
Clare Waight Keller is conscious of the need to stay true to the vision of the French fashion label, but in this social media age prefers to let her creations speak for themselves, she tells Divia Harilela
In this day and age, high-profile fashion designers are as vulnerable to the dangers of celebrity as Hollywood stars. Clare Waight Keller, however, is one of the lucky few; she has managed to fly beneath the radar and her reputation has remained unscathed since she became creative director of Parisian fashion house Chloé five years ago.
"I don't know whether exposing too much information is a good thing. I think people have greatly enjoyed it, but social media is a very hungry system," says the British designer. "If you are feeling too much you may get in trouble, which is why I am very considered about it and really think about things before I put myself out there."
It's a few hours after Chloé's autumn-winter 2016 show and Waight Keller is enjoying a moment of peace at her office in Paris' 8th arrondissement. She has typical English-rose looks - creamy white skin, pink cheeks and long, reddish brown locks - is warm, down to earth and chats easily about her love of travel. On a recent trip, she took her three children to the black and white deserts of Egypt.
She is dressed in an oversized denim top with pleats at the neckline, cropped jeans and retro aviator glasses. Her part-ladylike, part-tomboy style is an aesthetic she has been honing at Chloé.
"I needed to find a balance between my vision and the brand's DNA. At my first show, I got close … but from there I have evolved it, especially in the last two or three years. People love Chloé for its DNA and I have to respect that. For me, there are two sides to [the label], which is a very modern vision of how women are," she says.
