Thursday, 23 August 2007 |

Fashion scholar Sophie Albou first got her stylish feet wet at France's Fashion Institute. She followed her graduation with an appointment at Azzedine Alaia and then became a stylist for Le Garage.
In
1995 Albou launched her first menswear collection, under the name "Paul
and Joe" - a shout out to her two young sons. Two years later the
designer released a womenswear line under the same moniker, to critical
acclaim
2007 finds Albou celebrating the tenth anniversary of her Paul and Joe
womenswear line with a festive (bordering on cartoonish) collection of
clothing. The billowing royal purple coat, a blouse with enormous white
bell sleeves paired with dark khaki slouchy, pirate boots proudly
declare Albou's standing as a "resolute anti-conformist." Even her
primmer outfits - a conservatively tailored mint green coat with gold
button accents comes to mind - are punctuated with loud purple, white
or green stockings and patent knee-high boots.
Currently Paul
and Joe offerings are available in over 30 boutiques around the globe,
as well as in retail giants Barney's, Harvey Nichols and Harrod's among
others. By L Harper
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