Dear Shaded viewers,
Belgian designer Julie Kegels wants us to forget Paris and its rainy days. Instead, she says, let’s catch some waves in California! Blending the design codes of the Parisian bourgeoisie with the youthful, summer spirit of the West Coast, she shows us exactly where she dreams to be.
Teal argyle prints and oversaturated green and yellow Hawaiian florals set the scene, a collection that feels not quite here nor there. Upper-class city essentials are morphed and blended with beachwear. A trench coat clings to its formality as it transforms into a bathrobe, while a tweed suit is interwoven with scuba ties. Faded palm tree prints and boardshorts drawstring belts are swiped straight from surf culture, while bikinis layer over button-up shirts, desperate for a dive into the water.
Kegels reprises an ever-so-practical favorite from her debut collection, the handbag raincoat – a piece that’s on its way to becoming a brand signature. Just as such, some looks remained grounded with refined tailoring adapted from business suits or skillful oversizing of a work jacket that falls to the knees. Others seem plucked straight from a dream, like a golden bra-strap dress or a cardigan reimagined into a three-piece set. Dusty pink and Persian red disco satin garments await the sun to set over the horizon, ready for the sheen of club lights and, eventually, the moon.
Later,
Eliya
