Despite a promising beginning and an almost instant connection with retailers and the press, Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant left Courrèges after just two years in July. As is the formula with these comings and goings, the new collection was designed by an in-house team with the twin goals of driving brand momentum and not disrupting the flow of product to stores.
The lineup was heavily weighted to logo-ed merchandise: trainers, totes, sweatshirts, and tees, naturally, but also silk blouses and slip dresses, which registered as more unlikely. The house signature crinkled vinyl was in no short supply, either, on the mod ’60s shapes that André Courrèges made his own 50 years ago. Rounding out the collection were snug, ribbed knit sweaters to accompany snap-front jackets, overall dresses, and other pieces in washed black cotton with a sporty mien. The weakest link was the metallic jacquard used on shifts and minis. Outside of those pieces, the lineup felt of a piece with Meyer and Valliant’s output. A PR representative said that a new creative leader will be named before the next collection is released.
