Paris Fashion Week 2013: Chloe comes out to play

PARIS -- Chloe is having a moment here at Paris Fashion Week, where an exhibition celebrating 60 years of the French house just opened at the Palais de Tokyo museum.

Founded by Gaby Aghion in 1952, the brand was a forerunner to the kind of effortless, high-low, dressed-up/dressed-down style that defines the way women dress now, particularly on the West Coast. Many designers, including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo, have taken turns designing for Chloe, which has been helmed by Clare Waight Keller since 2011.

PHOTOS: Paris Fashion Week trends

Keller showed her spring-summer 2013 collection on Monday afternoon under a clear tent revealing sunny skies in the Tuileries gardens.

The inspiration: The words of Chloe founder Aghion, “I don’t explain anything, I have lived...I lived the life I wanted.”

The look: Cool, casual femininity. Softly sculptural volumes. Play with transparency and proportion. Nubby linen, sharp V-neck coat paired with rounded pants. Oversize T-shirts, some with a long sheer layer revealing a hint of midriff. Bermuda shorts and flippy pleated skirts, some adorned with floral cut-outs. Crisp cotton sunburst pleat tops and dresses with easy volumes. Fluid silk evening suits with sparkly embroidered arrows down the sides. Diaphanous sheer pleated dress over white shorts. Palette of white, black and navy blue with blush pink and coral.

The verdict: Playful yet real. Keller tapped into a lot of the trends of the season, namely modern femininity, sheer layers and ruffles, in a down-to-earth way.

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