Chloe is a French luxury ready-to-wear house founded in 1952 in Paris by Jacques Lenoir and Gaby Aghion. It has employed various established designers to create its collections including Karl Lagerfeld (now designer for Chanel) who designed from 1965-1983 and again from 1992-1997. The company's aim was to provide a lively and directional alternative to haute couture by using the talents of inspirational designers. In reality the company's fortunes have fluctuated.

Stella McCartney (b.1972) trained at London's Central St Martins College of Art & Design, worked with Christian Lacroix and spent several years learning the art of tailoring on Savile Row. Her graduation collection was bought by Brown's, a prestigious London boutique who encouraged her to start her own label. Soon after establishing her label, she was approached by the president of Chloe to be their new designer. He was after a young designer to create directional collections aimed at young women.

Since joining the company in 1997 McCartney has raised the ailing house's profile and profits while attracting a clientele that includes top British and American music and film celebrities. As the daughter of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, Stella's appointment at age 24 was first seen as an astute publicity stunt and subsequently her collections underwent exceptional industry and media scrutiny. However McCartney's collections soon dispelled doubts about her talent and she increased Chloe's sales by 500%.

McCartney's signature is sexy, romantic clothes and fine tailoring. She combines her love of embellished 1920s dresses, floaty chiffon 1930s tea dresses and early 20th century embroideries with her training in tailoring on Savile Row. This results in a combination of feminine and masculine styles which has captured the mood of young contemporary women. For McCartney this authoritarian/seductive mix is intended. She sees fashion design as a challenge, as a way of exploring the 'mechanics of the sexes ' and seeks to make women feel powerful yet also feminine and sexy in her clothes.

The Chloe avaitor style sunglasses with diamante heart selected for the Grand Marnier/ Powerhouse Museum Fashion of the Year 2000 highlight this feminine/ masculine juxtaposition and point to McCartney's ability to originate trends. The sunglasses were launched mid 1999 and continued to have good sales into 2001 even with a price tag of $350. For those who couldn't afford the original, they became one of the most copied sunglasses styles on the mass market.

Designed by Stella McCartney for Chloe.

McCartney's signature is sexy, romantic clothes and fine tailoring. She combines her love of embellished 1920s dresses, floaty chiffon 1930s tea dresses and early 20th century embroideries with her training in tailoring on Savile Row. This results in a combination of feminine and masculine styles which has captured the mood of young contemporary women. For McCartney the authoritive/seductive mix is intended. She sees fashion design as a challenge,as a way of exploring the 'mechanics of the sexes' and wants women to feel powerful yet also feminine and sexy in her clothes.

This combination of feminine and masculine is highlighted in the sunglasses selected for the Museum's collection, they feature masculine avaitor styling and a coquettish diamante heart.

The avaitor styling of the sunglasses also reflect's the influence of 1970s fashion and culture on fashion design in 2000.

Made by Chloe in Italy.

Worn by model for Fashion of the Year 2000 photography shoot and parade.

Purchased new from The corner shop, managed by Belinda Seper. Seper is well known for her discerning assessment of the fashion market. She specialises in stocking her three boutiques in Australia with the work of top international and Australian designers.

Sunglasses and sunglasses case, womens, glass/ metal/ diamantes, designed by Stella McCartney (France) for Chloe (Italy), 1999-2000

Pair of avaitor style sunglasses with squarish lenses tinted with a variegated brown tint. The proper left lens is decorated with a small love heart outlined in tiny diamantes. The glasses have gold metal half frames across the tops of the lenses and folding earpieces covered at the ends with black plastic.

The flip top metal glasses case is covered with lavender plastic coating. Lined with grey suede like fabric.

With a cleaning cloth made of blue silk with cut scalloped edges.

Designed: McCartney, Stella; Paris, France

Designed: Chloe; Paris, France

Made: Chloe; Italy; 1999


Used: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences; Sydney; 2000

Sunglasses: impressed on outside proper left earpiece 'Chloe'. Stamped on inside proper left earpiece 'Chloe 19S GS 135'. Stamped on inside proper right earpiece '135 Chloe Made in Italy CE'.

Case: impressed outside on lid 'Chloe'. Stamped in silver inside lid 'Chloe'. Small clear plastic label has come loose inside case printed in silver '100% U.V. PROTECTION/ Chloe/ LUNETTES'.

Cleaning cloth: impressed on one side 'Chloe'.

2001/18/1