The sheer joie de vivre that Inès de La Fressange exudes sets the Parisian beauty and Roger Vivier’s muse apart. We speak to the style icon, as she shares her life philosophies, her style mantras and her relationship with Karl Lagerfeld.
The brand’s ambassador and muse, Ines, sports the spring/summer 2016 collection of Roger Vivier’s sneakers and bag.
Tell us about the beginning of your relationship with the brand, Roger Vivier.
My friend Diego Della Valle had taken over Roger Vivier and he called me to meet with him at the Ritz hotel in Paris. When he asked me to assist him with the relaunch of the brand, I was thrilled! I obviously said yes. But, what Della Valle didn’t know was that I knew the man, Roger Vivier, himself, and he had also asked for a similar project when he was alive. I couldn’t at that time, and I always harboured a guilt for not helping my friend when he needed me. So, I was thrilled – it was like a guardian angel brought me back to the brand at a time when I could dedicate the time and energy it deserved. Together we brought on board Frisoni, the designer, and have had smooth sailing for 13 years. This is why in life it’s important to be honest and sincere, because we had the same target and the same vision of how Roger Vivier should be.
Do you have a memory of the first pair of Roger Vivier shoes you ever owned?
When I was 20 years old, I knew the brand and its designs inside out, but I couldn’t afford designer shoes. But, I saved and invested in the classic black patent ballerina with the big buckle, because no matter what you wear that shoe with, it would transform your look. Till this day, I always keep a fresh pair of those flats.
Ines and designer Bruno Frisoni, have worked together for 13 years at Roger Vivier.
What does a typical day at work look like?
No day is ever typical. Some days are spent with press meetings, some days I pull out furniture for new stores, some days I spend meeting store managers around the world, and so on.
What does style mean to you?
The idea of chic these days is to be minimalist. Why would anyone want that? Being afraid of bad taste is a sign of bad taste. I can see that fashion is killing fashion. You go to a luxury store and you’ll find an empty shop, with mirrors and monochrome interiors with monochrome clothes tucked in somewhere. I’d rather be out there and take a risk.
The idea of chic these days is to be minimalist. Why would anyone want that? Being afraid of bad taste is a sign of bad taste.
Inès de La Fressange
What’s your opinion on fashion for all?
For example, the Burberry trench coat – women of different generations, from me to my mother and my daughters, all look good in that coat. When a brand is powerful and talented, it is timeless and will always present a good product. When you come to Roger Vivier, every woman of every age will find something. Yes, some things are essentials and some are trendy, but that’s the beauty of fashion. These pieces stay in the family for generations, yet have the ability to upgrade any look.
Your daughters are in their late teens and early twenties. How different do you think their style is now from your own at that age?
We conformed to a lot of rules back then. I would wear jeans and Western boots because they were trendy. We could never mix red and pink in one outfit. If we were dressing up, then we’d need matching shoes. You couldn’t wear embellished shoes during the day. These days there are no rules; young people have complete freedom to wear whatever they want. I see my daughters have fun and they can wear
sport shoes with an evening gown… just being comfortable and expressing themselves through their clothes.
You were a model in the 80s. What do you think of today’s girls?
I think girls like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid are not real models; they are celebrities. Nowadays, bloggers and social media stars are getting the roles of models because they have a voice. But, the world of fashion is volatile like this; it is always changing. Back when I was modelling for Karl (Lagerfeld) for Chanel, we were working hard to perfect our modelling. These days, anyone with a smartphone has the platform to be a model and a spokesperson.
At Chanel, I realised I was basically in the best fashion school in the world, with the best private teacher, Karl Lagerfeld.
Speaking of Chanel, how would you describe your relationship with Karl Lagerfeld?
It was almost 40 years ago that I worked exclusively for Chanel. I spent all my time in the atelier and the Chanel offices. I used to stay back after my fittings and see the designers work on models. I realised I was basically in the best fashion school in the world, with the best private teacher and the best homework assignments. Karl taught me how to draw and think like a designer in terms of structure and technique. It was a fantastic experience, because usually when you model, you don’t get to learn as much, and I was there, absorbing all I could.
You travel a lot for work – tell us about one of your favourite memories.
All my favourite travel memories are from India. Most recently, I visited Rajasthan. It was wonderful! I love the sense of humour and the beauty of the country. After you see the joyful colours and prints and jewellery on the streets, you feel inspired.
What is your ideal vacation?
I’m in Provence with all my friends, spending days in local farmers’ markets and sitting by the pool, just losing time. People these days forget to lose time and feel guilty about taking time out for themselves.
