Cédric Charlier Fall/Winter 2014: Paris Fashion Week

Inside the stunning Palais des Beaux-Arts—the exhibition space connected to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts—Belgian-born designer Cédric Charlier presented a lusciously muted Fall/Winter 2014 collection. The models appeared looking aqueous, like mermaids in grunge, their dewy lips and long hair slicked back in a diagonal divide. The colors aubergine, green, and washed-out teal were prominent throughout the wide array of materials, in the straightforward, ladylike silhouettes Cédric is known for. Coats in deep colors came first, made of wool printed with subtle reptilian patterns and slight sheen, paired with heeled knee-high boots. Matte ensembles followed in white neoprene and leather, whose patterned creases abstracted snakeskin in interesting ways and juxtaposed loose-fitting pants. Several scaly sequined sweater dress combinations appeared toward the end, softened by the presence of cut-out fur coats.

Backstage, Cédric explained that his color palette was inspired by the idea of the chameleon—a species of lizard that has an uncanny ability to change its skin pigmentation in order to make itself invisible to predators. “The color comes from the idea of a reptilian universe,” he said. “But it makes sense when the colors are out of context. If you think about chameleon camouflage, normally you don’t see it in the context of colors because it’s all one, but when it’s out, it becomes color.”

Photos by ROMAIN VESIN | E-MAIL US to be notified once the Fall/Winter 2014 collection hits OC!