Designer A-Z

3.1 Phillip Lim

Spring/Summer 2010

By Avril Mair

Leighton Meester, Alexa Chung, there’s a certain kind of girl who makes the 3.1 Phillip Lim front row. She’s stylish, sure, but she doesn’t really buy into big trends.

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She’s got attitude, definitely, but she still likes to look pretty. Phillip Lim has got this girl sussed. In just five years, the young designer has turned his understanding into a multi-million dollar business. His shows are compelling but there’s no theatre or unnecessary drama: instead, they’re a clever compilation of really desirable pieces. That’s no bad thing. For the spring/summer 2010 collection, they were the most desirable yet: a cropped black leather jacket, gathered so it hugged the waist tightly; a khaki safari jacket, belted, its sleeves full and elbow length; a cream pleated goddess gown in feather-light chiffon, matt gold sequins decorating the skirt; an oversized envelope clutch in a luminous orange leather; chic little ankle booties, buckled around the foot, vertiginously high. There were tomboyish, everyday things, high-waisted trousers with a careless turn-up at the ankle, loose shorts that roll to mid thigh, a simple cardigan that ties up the back. Then there was the finale: a series of blush-coloured dresses, elaborately pleated, each looking better than the last. It was a show to watch while compiling a mental shopping list.