Michael Rider for Celine. CAN I FALL IN LOVE?
Fashion’s leadership game is getting a reboot—and no, it’s not about parachuting in a celebrity designer or gambling on an obscure East Village tattoo artist with 12 followers and a dream. In Paris, the plot twist is surprisingly wholesome: brands are drunk dialing their exes. They want to get back together. They miss the way things used to be. But as a consumer…. do I?
This weekend, Celine showed us that it isn’t just interested in French ingénues with oversized blazers and half-smoked cigs hanging out of their mouths. It is a brand that has endured the test of time because it continues to evolve, fold in on itself, and then reemerge again, only with more humor and bigger hardware. While I loved being abused by Hedi Silmane, and forced into kitten heels and logo pussy bow blouses with leather chaps, I am open to change, as long as I can still look slightly unapproachable and like a power lesbian.
Michael Rider’s debut wasn’t loud, but it resonated with a confident reintroduction that felt true to the house’s core.
With this show, and as hard as this is for me personally to admit, since you know how much I LOVE HEDI SILMANE CELINE, the brand itself came full circle, bringing experience, clarity, and emotion to the places where they first found their voice. In an industry obsessed with the new, this kind of return feels radical in its way… and no, I’m not just talking about scarves.
With experience at Balenciaga, Philo’s Céline, and Ralph Lauren, Rider embodied the essence of Celine into a single collection—familiar but entirely his own. He paid tribute to the past—bringing back the Luggage and Trapeze bags, sharp tailoring, and delightfully odd jewelry—but also forced us to look ahead to the future.
Maybe going back is the way forward, especially if you left your best boots there.
Takeaways from this runway show-
Bright colors: blues, greens, and reds contrasted with camels.
Over-styled: more is more. Scarves are worn as necklaces and belts, and are seen in the backdrop of the show.
A plethora of jewelry: layered gold chains, oversized bangles, charm-filled pieces, denim belts, silk scarves, and playful bags. I’m definitely gonna start rocking silver and white gold again.
Sporty details: wrestling boots, boxing-inspired footwear, and oversized totes.