When Hedi Slimane was appointed as Celine’s creative director in 2018, he redesigned the brand’s logo, and revamped its social media and website, signalling that it was about to enter a new era. Soon, we saw ’70s-inspired looks, heavy on the denim, propelled onto the Celine runway and Slimane’s rock-and-roll style and passion for photography influencing iconic black and white ad campaigns.
With it comes Slimane’s muses, including Lisa from K-pop band Blackpink. The 23-year-old singer has accumulated a cult following, as much for her rapping and dancing talents as for her fashion choices. Now, she takes an official global brand ambassador role for Celine. “It means a lot to me to be Celine’s first ambassador. I feel honoured and excited that I have the chance to collaborate with Hedi Slimane,” she says. “Honestly, Celine’s pieces fit me perfectly, as if they are tailored for me in the first place. Wearing Celine makes me feel like I am cat-walking on the runway!”
Lisa first encountered the brand when she was 15-year-old, after her fashion-enthusiast cousin introduced her to it, and her first piece was Celine’s Belt Bag. “It is still one of my favourite handbags and I even brought it to Blackpink’s first stage performance. As for my first Celine fashion show, it was the Spring/Summer 2020 Men’s runway show at Paris Fashion Week.” On her preference for cuts and silhouettes, Lisa is loyal to the brand’s signature style. “Bow-adorned silk blouses, mid-length skirts and flared jeans are now the signature styles of Celine. I always go for the jeans, because they make my legs look longer; the silk blouse is no doubt my favourite, since it can be so easily paired with my other clothes; and the mid-length skirt is timeless.”
Lisa prioritises comfort in her style choices but enjoys mixing up looks. “For example, I would normally pair an oversized jacket with a T-shirt, jeans and mini bag. Recently, I love layering a Celine jacket on top of a vest to create a sophisticated look with a modern touch. This is what I love about Celine. You can mix all of Hedi’s designs together and create infinite looks.” As for handbags, Lisa’s favourites are the Celine 16 and Triomphe. “I like Celine 16 because it’s classy, timeless and durable; the Triomphe consists of snakeskin and golden metal hardwares – it is simply exquisite!”
Lisa hopes that her role will enable her to inspire others just as Celine has been inspiring her since she was a teenager. “Hedi’s strength is that his creativity is elegant yet mesmerising while his works are both fashionable and wearable at the same time. His designs might look simple but, in fact, they are strong and full of energy. I rarely have to wear any accessories as the garment is enough.” This is captured in Hedi’s photography. “His images are so energetic and I believe they can almost represent the rock genre. If rock-and-roll was a strictly visual medium, Hedi’s photos would be definitive. He tends to capture the lively and genuine side of people. I really love them.”
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While many of this years shows are taking place in “phygital” form , Lisa reminisces on the magic of the Celine runway last year. “It was flooded with lights and models began walking down the runway to the rhythm of the background music. I was so focused that I forgot to take photos. The excitement I felt was the same as that during my stage performances! It was such a memorable experience and honestly, I could not stop reminiscing about that show.”
Part of the magic stemmed from Paris. “It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world!” Lisa says. “I enjoy taking walks with my film camera in Trocadéro and Jardin des Tuileries. Avenue Montaigne is also one of my favourite spots. Of course I will not miss out Celine’s flagship store in Paris!”
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Editor
Karma CheungCredit
Photo Courtesy of Hedi Slimane; Translation: Marco Lee
