The History of Chloe Brand Clothing

Chloe is a clothing design company that was founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. At the time, Eyptian-born Aghion was quite a trendsetter as she rejected the formality of 50’s style for clothing designed with a much freer spirit. In addition, her clothing was made of fine fabric, yet was available off the rack.

Aghion partnered up with Jacques Lenoir and, in 1956, debuted the first chloe collection. The two selected chloe as the name of the line because they felt it has a warm and feminine appeal. The label quickly gained popularity and the duo began hiring young designers to help add to their collection.

In 1966, chloe put Karl Lagerfield in place as the head designer. Through his guidance, the chloe brand became one of the top brands in the 1970’s. The popularity was spurred by the fact that such fashion icons as Brigitte Bardot, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Maria Callas were all frequenting the chloe boutiques.

Throughout the 1980’s, the chloe brand stayed alive with new and changing collections that still maintained the cutting-edge look that characterized the brand. In 1985, it was purchased by a luxury goods conglomerate and gained international attention.

In 1997, the chloe brand was once again reinvented by Stella McCartney. The line was designed to have a “romantic yet streetwise mix” of trousers, lingerie, and tailoring. The look was well received by young women throughout the world.

In 2001, Phoebe Philo came on board as the creative director and continued the chloe legacy. Her impact can be seen in the fluid lines of the chloe brand, as well as the very modern tops. In 2006, Paulo Melim Andersson was appointed a the new chief designer. Today, the style is still embraced by fashion-conscious stars such as Natalie Portman, Kirsten Dunst, and Lou Doillon.