Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVIII

2 2 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Indeed, the tone for the collection was set by the theme music for the show: “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush, an indelibly moving song by the iconic singer whom Philo considers a hero. Wearing a Kate Bush T-shirt backstage, Philo spoke to the theme of vulnerability and embracing uncertainty – and how that crosses over to informher creativity. “In a way, I was open to everything,” she said of the collection. “No preconceived ideas, very little of me saying no.” The results are marvellous. Nowhere near as severe as the SS2014 collection, but retaining a hint of the same boldness and attention to structure, this new lineup is infused with an easy grace and a more relaxed feel. You’ll still see a bold pop of colour, as in the bright yellow trousers, but overall the predominant palette is navy, cream, and a cheerful magenta pink (we adored the long knitwear wrap dress with the textured hem). And there’s even a floral print, which we’re not sure we’ve seen from Philo before, and it was worth the wait, culminating in a bright splash of red poppies against a blue and green background. A floral might be risky for Philo, but the fact that she’s used it to sophisticated effect in a long cut- away dress-over-trousers look shows that her focus on utility and construction remains sharp. It’s just one example of how Philo has reaped the rich creative rewards that can be realised when you