The Chloé girl walks down the streets of Paris wearing a flowing, white mini dress with a beret on her head, baguette in hand, and smile on her face. She's laid-back but put together. She doesn't ever try too hard. She has an appreciation for classic elegance but an undying love for boho-chic. She's confident and carefree. She's the modern woman that embodies the definition of effortless femininity - and her aesthetic is Chloé.
Chloé, the French fashion house founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion, is highly acclaimed for their effortless silhouettes and portraying femininity to perfection. Contemporary but classic, Chloé is elegant with a slight edge due to their boho aesthetic.
The brand we know today wasn't always so thriving. In fact, it was falling under the radar until the early 2000s. Upon the departure of Stella McCartney, her assistant Phoebe Philo took the creative reigns. Philo reinvented the brand and took it in a new direction. Chloé branched out into handbags, shoes, and other small luxury goods. Philo introduced the Paddington bag in 2005 which took the fashion lovers and It-Girls of the world by storm. Following the Paddington, the Paraty was introduced in 2008 and received just as much attention and adoration. Bag after bag, collection after collection Philo transformed Chloé into a dominant leading fashion house once again.
Following the departure of Phoebe Philo, the brand appointed Hannah MacGibbon (who introduced the iconic Marcie bag) in 2008 as artistic director. Following MacGibbon, Clare Waight Keller took the creative reigns in 2011 for six years. Under Waight Keller's creative direction, Chloé introduced two of their signature handbags - the Faye, which first appeared in the brand's Spring / Summer 2015 collection, and our personal favourite, the Drew.
The Drew debuted in the brand's Fall / Winter 2014 collection and it almost instantly became It-Bag status. A romantic reinvention of a typical saddle bag, the Drew is clean cut with a round structure. The gold tone hardware and postman's lock clasp is a defining feature on the Drew, making it easily recognizable. It's luxurious but simple, the Drew can be worn for both casual and formal occasions with its an understated aesthetic and tasteful detailing.
Available in two sizes, the Mini and the Small, the Drew is available in almost every colour imaginable depending on the season, including bi-colour palettes. Most commonly available in grained lambskin, the Drew is also frequently available in smooth calfskin with a suede body. You can also find Drews in exotic leathers including python and crocodile.
Under the current creative direction of Natasha Ramsay-Levi, appointed in March 2017, a new and improved Drew was released - the Bijou. With the original Drew's silhouette and hardware details, the Bijou is now available in smooth, quilted calfskin with a short, large chain strap and long leather strap for cross body usage. Clients can now also take their pick between silver tone and gold tone hardware, as opposed to just gold.
The Drew, whether it be the Bijou or the original, is the perfect investment for a woman looking for a bag to wear at any time with any outfit. Versatile as well as chic, there Drew offers the best of both worlds when it comes to fashion and function. It's a worthy addition to any handbag collection and is a true must-have for any woman with an appreciation for beauty and detail. It's glamorous, but not in your face - making it a timeless piece and the perfect companion. Wherever you go or whatever you wear it with, you'll be confident knowing you're carrying a little bit of Parisian-chic with you.
Shop the Chloé Drew here
By: Isabel de Carteret
