Carven sends silhouettes swinging for Spring

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STORY: Romantic feminine silhouettes harking back to a bygone era were revealed on the runway at Carven's spring/summer 2013 presentation during Paris Fashion Week on Thursday (September 27).

Carven Creative Director Guillaume Henry showcased a slew of retro elements including prim Peter Pan collars, a sleek Seventies shoulder, and swinging bell shapes reminiscent of the Sixties. Delicate soft lace dresses were counterbalanced by structured coats and blazers. There was no shortage of Henry's signature use of shapes, with wing-shaped cutouts decorating everything from dresses to coats.

Henry spoke to Reuters backstage about the inspiration behind his latest collection.

"The colors have been inspired by Emile Galle, you know he was doing vases, and they were all kind of blurred. Like, they were not bright colors, they were all kind of dark green, dark blue, but still enthusiastic and the idea as well of a foreign country, a girl who could be lost super far away."

The color palette was autumnal - think faded hues of burgundy, blue and green - despite the fact that the collection is for spring.

Though the silhouettes had a significant volume and weight to them, Henry told Reuters that the garments are actually quite lightweight. For example, what resembled a tweed skirt on the runway was actually made of woven silk linen.

Carven has become a staple on the Paris Fashion Week circuit after Henry was appointed creative director of the brand in 2009. The house of Carven was founded in 1945 by Carmen de Tommaso and had lain dormant for several years before Henry, a former assistant to Mr Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy, was hired to rejuvenate the brand.

The womenswear line under Henry is known today for its casual elegance and clean aesthetic. Its attractive price point has garnered a new clientele as well. According to Women's Wear Daily, in one year alone, the precocious French designer succeeded in expanding the Carven's total number of retailers from 70 for its spring/summer 2010 collection to 180 retailers for its autumn/winter 2010 collection.