Three years ago, the review for Cacharel’s Spring 2016 collection ended with the suggestion that the studio might consider mining the Musée d’Orsay for floral inspiration, especially since the showroom had just relocated mere blocks from the Impressionist-laden landmark. The studio circa 2018 probably arrived at this idea themselves, but it did feel validating to see the latest collection nod to Van Gogh, Seurat, and Degas. Creative license can be risky, though. Appropriating a drawing of a dancer by Degas à la Warhol’s pattern repetition was slightly jarring at first. Then, once expectations were calibrated, it became cute, if not also camp. In the right context, the knee-length coat and slim trousers in toile could really pop.
A Pointillism print interspersed with irises (singled out for their ruffled composition) was garden-party fresh for a one-shouldered chiffon dress, while the atmospheric shades of blue that washed over a pair of wide-leg pants made for an interesting alternative to denim. A dahlia motif splashed across a slim-fit suit was more redolent of pretty wallpaper than a still life, and a windbreaker covered in black-and-white floral sketches in the manner of a coloring book would have an antidepressant effect on a rainy day. From the split-back shirts to the jersey suiting, the collection offered an array of budget-friendly summery updates which would go over well among those wanting to look properly dressed but not serious. The flip side is that the treatment of the source material came off too twee. As Cacharel reorients itself towards e-commerce and redesigns its digital platform, perhaps this collection is just the beginning of further field trips to the museum with more interesting interpretations. There’s such unrealized potential here.
