Guillaume Henry began pursuing a tougher look for his Carven girl last season; actresses who came of age in the edgier-than-now nineties like Drew Barrymore and Liv Tyler influenced him. This time, he said his muse was Bonnie Parker, the ultimate girl outlaw, as played by Faye Dunaway. But there was nothing quite so obvious in his Pre-Fall lineup as a beret—not much tough about those anyway. Instead, he created prints inspired by Brassaï's early photos of street art for a flared mini and a trim button-down, and cut a mannish coat in a bold white tartan. Outerwear was a big part of the story. Shearling bombers and aviators, along with wool toggle coats in navy or camel, took their cues from military uniforms. The more boyish vibe aligns Henry with the direction other labels are heading in this season. Ladylike is on the wane. But once an ingenue, always an ingenue. The signature Carven charm materialized most obviously in shrunken sweaters and short A-line skirts, and on a great little long-sleeved dress made from silvery-white lace.
