Following her sophomore show for Chloé, designer Chemena Kamali was feted by editors and friends at a candlelit dinner in her honor, held within the opulent walls of Paris’ Lapérouse restaurant. This historic establishment, dating back to 1766, has long served as a haven of elegance and pleasure, its intimate salons once hosting courtesans and their wealthy patrons. Legend has it that in one of these salons, known as Le Sénateur, hidden behind a secret passage, women of intrigue would etch their signatures onto mirrors to test the authenticity of the diamonds they received as gifts. “I love that it’s such a Parisian classic!” said Kamali. “It’s a very cozy and sensual place that carries a lot of history, but it’s also somewhere people still love to go to today. I love that mix of past and present. It felt important to bring my friends and family together after the show in an intimate and fun place, with a warm and personal atmosphere and great food!”
The bohemian and romantic atmosphere of the dinner perfectly mirrored the vision Kamali brings to Chloé, her own personal style deeply influencing the collections she designs. Kamali’s inspiration, however, goes beyond her own aesthetic, she draws upon the legacy of the brand itself and the women it embodies. “Gaby Aghion, the founder of Chloé, wanted to encourage women to dare, to empower them and give them freedom. There’s this strong woman-to-woman connection in the DNA of Chloé that I feel strongly about. For me, the women who feel connected to Chloé represent freedom; they live and dress instinctively and very personally. I think what they love is that Chloé doesn’t transform them into someone they’re not.”
Chloé is fast becoming the go-to brand for women who embrace a modern, edge-infused boho style, free from nostalgia. One of its most loyal supporters, Sienna Miller, embodies this spirit perfectly. Radiating in a broad-shouldered black leather cropped jacket, soft wide-leg pants, and the iconic Chloé platform clogs, Miller was full of praise for Kamali’s work. “I’ve always been in love with Chloé; it represents everything I enjoy wearing since I first discovered it through Stella and Phoebe. I used to save up to buy their pieces—I still wear a pair of green boots with a chain around the ankle, it was around 2003,” she said. “The spirit of the brand has always resonated with my style, but I lost touch with it for a while. Last season, I was invited back, and it felt like seeing everything I had missed and wanted from fashion—my dream wardrobe!” she enthused, adding that she loved every single piece from the Spring show. She was particularly drawn to the bloomers and romantic, lacy white lingerie frocks that opened the show. “I’ve actually spent summers searching for antique French lingerie; just last week, I found a pair of ’70s bloomers and a white matching top at a market in England, and I saw something similar on the Spring runway,” she reminisced.
“Chloé is feminine without being overly sweet. Although I’ve stepped away from my bohemian side for a while, I feel that what Chemena is doing at Chloé truly captures the essence of what I like to wear — it’s refreshing to reconnect with that part of myself. Her designs feel open and liberating, full of optimism and lightness. It’s the girl I aspire to be—the coolest girl in the room. There’s so much heart in her work.”
Kamali has imbued Chloé with a sense of romance that intertwines with strength. “There are opposites and contradictions in everything, especially in women’s lives,” Kamali told Vogue. “There are moments when you feel confident and empowered, there are moments when you feel more vulnerable and soft; these opposites are all natural and coexist. I am really inspired by that. We go through different stages in life, and dressing is part of that self-discovery.”
Guests enjoyed the exquisite Michelin-starred French menu at Lapérouse, indulging in succulent Chateaubriand steaks served with pommes frites, or sea brim with a side of creamy mashed potatoes. Champagne flowed freely, setting the tone for a lively and joyous gathering. Karlie Kloss engaged in conversation with Pat Cleveland, who was in attendance with her daughter Anna. The lensmen’s contingent, including David Sims, Mario Sorrenti, and Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, were deeply engrossed in conversation with creative director Ferdinando Verderi; models Jessica Miller and Taylor Hill, French actress Rebecca Dayan, and French designer Jeanne Damas all exuded the effortlessly chic Chloé aesthetic.
