In Conversation with Ines de la Fressange: Three Kilos Less of Jewellery!

" All woment think 'three kilos less and I would look better!' 

 

In Conversation with Ines de la Fressange and Sophie Gachet at Browns Hotel, Mayfair, in 2011

 

Ines rises from the sofa to greet me French style - a kiss on each cheek - and is charming enough to compliment me on my hair and clothes.  She is immaculate, taller than most (say 5'10") wearing a simple man's navy V neck from Uniqlo, cropped Prada trousers in a nude tone, and the ubiquitous Roger Vivier black patent shoes.  Following introductory pleasantries I delve in:

TSD (The Style Director)

Who’s your style icon?

IdlF(Ines de la Fressange)

I would like to say Katherine Hepburn

TSD

Much more interesting than Audrey

IdlF

You are the first one to understand that!  Audrey was gorgeous moving in a fantastic way but she had Givenchy – he had talent.  She had talent in the movies.  But Katherine had her own great style.

If not, then anonymous people.  Big thing when Sharon Stone arrived with Gap white shirt!  All these people on red carpet have coaches.  It is not their own style – it’s made up. They are totally boring - all like bimbos, they never know who they are

Sonia

Yes it’s a total look.  Never mixed up.

TSD

Do you think French women are more inherently chic than English women?

IdIF

No.  Not at all.  English women have their own style - but our book is called Parisian Chic!

Sophie

Maybe the English style is a little bit different. Parisian women have a very simple style.  They don’t try too hard

IdIF

Both my children had very tacky moments.  But now they have perfect taste. 

Young people nowadays all dress more or less the same.  They all shop at TopShop.  Do you remember Carnaby Street?  It was great and we had all these crazy things to choose from.  But after 40 you suddenly have this feeling you can’t dress up  as you did when you were young  – but you don’t feel totally like granny yet!  But there is a problem for these women and sometimes the magazines don’t help them that much.  Sometimes they make an effort and its good and sometimes they don’t, which is quite sad.  And the idea was to help these women to explain they don’t need that much – just maybe the right things.

TSD

I love the book.   It’s like a little style bible.  I never knew you shouldn’t wear a necklace and earrings at the same time

IdlF

You never knew but you never did it

TSD

Probably not but now I know I never will!

IdlF

It’s better to say “no”!  People need laws (SD:  I think she meant rules or guidelines!).  Now that everything and anything is possible you see just the worst dressed women.  Maybe it’s not that bad to say “Don’t”.  We should start being intelligent about the way we mix clothes.

So many women think that something is jolly or witty and so often it is not.

TSD

I love your point about a great smile and great teeth making you beautiful.

IdlF

Some women spend £600 on cream and forget their teeth and sometimes its good to say that. 

TSD

You mention the Burberry trench as an essential wardrobe item.  The Style Director is a one stop shop for classics with a twist, and the Burberry is a key piece.   So why is the Burberry trench your favourite? How do you wear it?

IdelF

This coat would look amazing with blue jeans or maybe cropped black pants and ballet pumps.  I don’t know who wouldn’t look good in this look.  We don’t all need to look like fashion victims.  It’s better to look and feel comfortable. 

SG

It was the first gaberdine raincoat.  During the First World War 1914  it was invented for use in the trench’s – hence the name the Trench.  It is the original

IdelF

There is a reason why certain items last throughout the years

SG

When you have to invest in something the quality is important

IdlF

There are some things like this:  the Kelly bag, Todd’s loafers even the Chanel quilted bag.

TSD

Would you prefer the Todd’s loafer to the original Bass Weejun?

IdlF

Bass are more difficult to find.  Todd’s have shops everywhere so they are accessible.  It’s not good to make things too complicated for shoppers.  It’s great to have basics like these.  It depends how you wear them.  

TSD

That’s a bad example Ines –you’re the face of Roger Vivier!

IdlF

All the time I see people in the street and I think, if they had a good haircut, less makeup, less jewellery.  All women think “three kilos less and I would look better”.  No!  Three kilos less of jewellery and they would look better.

TSD

Do you plan your wardrobe the night before or in the morning?

IdlF

I open my closet and think “goodness, I have nothing to wear”.   I can’t find anything in the wardrobe I want to choose and then, I am in a hurry, and I do what it says in French Chic – choose the classics and dress them up.

TSD

So heels or flats for the day?

IdlF

Flats.  There is this thing about heels.  Life will not change with 10cm more in height.

It’s a funny idea about sexuality because when a man looks at a woman it is not at her shoes!  It is her eyes he sees first.  It’s the way she moves, talks, eats.  

TSD

If there was a fire in the house which clothes would you grab?

IdlF

I would take pictures of my family, my American Express card to very quickly go shopping to replace everything.  But if I had to choose it would be a pair of eccentric snake boots from Vivier.   I don’t wear them that much but I just love them – very elegant and eccentric.  Nobody does that nowadays – eccentric and elegant.  

TSD

Did you work with Sophie together on the book?

IdlF

She’s the brains, I’m the legs

SG

The book really was a collaboration. We met at the school gates.  I am from Elle.  One day we had a cup of coffee and she asked for a lot of addresses.  We worked together on an interview for the magazine and then talked about the book.  We did all the addresses together – in every single store she bought something!  She did all the drawings and collaborated on the style of the book.  We worked very closely together – she is very visual.  I think it was important to have a lot of pictures.  Its true that sometimes when you say “Don’t” it changes – for example, bright colours.  Sometimes it is good to put some trends into your style.  Parisians always knows what the trends are although she won’t admit this.   She absorbs the trends.  

TSD: 

The Style Director is all about edited classics with a twist chosen by style icons.  What do you think of it?

SG

It’s a great idea. There is nowhere else that edits the items down.  Fewer is better. 

TSD
Thank you Ines and Sophie - it's been a pleasure!