Ines de la Fressange on French Style
The April issue of British Vogue has a feature on the new Roger Vivier book and an interview with Ines de la Fressange, at home. I’d share it with you but unfortunately it’s not online. The author of Parisian Chic says that she loves wearing jeans, wants to throw her iPhone out of the window and that her car is littered with ‘crushed biscuits and chewing gum wrappers.’ I properly love this woman. And her shoes. And her maison. But it’s her comment on French style that I found most interesting, ‘In France, there’s an idea that chic means being uptight. But I’ve always thought you can be chic without being conventional.’
Being British, I agree. I’ve often thought that the chicest people are the ones with more of an idiosyncratic look: part tradition, part rebellion, always something a little unconventional going on. That’s why Phoebe Philo is such a hit at Céline with her minimal tailoring and mink-lined shower shoes.
What do you think?
Ah, love her too – and her style. However, as far as "being unconventional" goes, I don't quite buy it. Her style is very classic and relatively conventional – which isn't bad at all. Maybe I've just lived in the UK for too long where "unconventional" really means "off the wall" as opposed to the French idea of "unconventional" 😉 xo