The French house, was founded in 1945 by Carmen de Tommaso who was the first to make clothes for petite women (like herself); a very Parisian and democratic view of fashion design. In 2010, the brand was relaunched with a contemporary and affordable positioning with men and women’s collections that included ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories.
Carven has opened its first store in the UAE in the heart of City Walk. The two creative directors Alexis Martial and Adrien Caillaudaud unveiled their spring/summer 2016 collection at a private launch party. The new boutique mainly focuses on Carven’s womenswear, but also menswear. They said: “Carven is a brand that conveys a beautiful sense of femininity and freshness that we look forward to continuing into the next era.”
Taking a fresh and dynamic stance, she adopts masculine elements before diving into evening, taking her inspiration from the seabed. Oscillating between close-fitting cuts and looser fits, the season’s silhouette expresses an airy elegance. Inside out jackets and men’s shirts give way to a Sixties style punctuated with circular cutouts. Dresses and tops suggest the influence of the diving suit, while pleats and frills float like the fins of an urban mermaid. A slogan t-shirt suggests the insouciance of youth, paired with a sensual short skirt. Always high-waisted, the trousers affirm its place as a mainstay of the Carven vocabulary.
As for accessories, belts take their lead from a diving design and shoes borrow the thick rubber sole of beach sandals, perched on a square heel. Wrists display a Carven letter chain or a mini bag. The Mercer bag once again features its double clasp opening and comes in a variety of shapes, always accessorised with a plethora of key rings and snap hooks.
