Uniqlo and Ines de la Fressange Collection ... A Modish French Love Story

So you just developed an obsession on everything Francophone. 

You start to learn the language; singing along and aloud to the late Edith Piaf and the très petite Alizée; and you even try your hands on French cooking, going to an extent where you are so eager to please your friends or your family, you search high and low for escargots and frog legs. 

Très bien then, let’s give a big applause to you on your hard work and effort. Now that you know how to speak and read French (albeit broken but still repairable – just sign up for a proper class at Alliance Française); you can sing the songs with similar intonation though you tend to find that the meaning lies in the inside rather than the surface; and you are a pro at cooking coc au vin, then what about your style? 

Rest assured that transition would be incomplete without adopting the French sense of style that is brimming with effortlessness and inevitable je ne sais quoi.

When it comes to giving the best advice on how to dress like les femmes Française, no one does it best than Ines de la Fressange. 

An aristocrat by birth, Ines de la Fressange burst to international stardom as a fashion model, walking on Chanel runway and served as the muse for Karl Lagerfeld from 1983 to 1990. 

In 1989, she was chosen by the French government as the likeness for a bust of Marianne, the symbol of the French republic.

Apart from modelling, Ines holds a retinue of accomplishments that transcend several fields such as fashion and journalism. For instance, her tome Parisian Chic has been translated into 17 languages and widely read by more than a million chic fashionistas worldwide. At the moment, de la Fressange is also the brand ambassador for the storied shoe label Roger Vivier.

This spring, Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo has embarked on a stylish collaboration with de la Fressange on a special collection that does not focus on trends, but rather, pieces that the icon herself would wear. 

These pieces are designed to make women feel good and look beautiful with details such as the height of the waistline, opening of the neckline and the overall fit – all are meticulously refined through a long fitting process with de la Fressange herself in order to create a perfectly balanced collection.

"The qualities important to me are beauty, originality, and elegance. The price doesn’t matter at all. The most enjoyable thing for me is the ability to mix and match styles, and my favorite items cover a broad spectrum from inexpensive to pricey. The potential to freely mix and combine many different items is a source of constant pleasure", says de la Fressange on the collection.

On working with a fashion world star such as de la Fressange, Naoki Takizawa, the Design Director of Uniqlo believes that Ines has an immeasurable influence on the fashion world.

“She is loved by [fashion] designers everywhere and her comments as a model and co-creator of clothing give rise to the true nature of apparel,” Takizawa continues. “Talking with Ines, images of the next generation of clothing come to me naturally. We have combined that with Uniqlo’s LifeWear concept.”

There are four lines within the collection – Petite Parisienne, Bleu Blanc Parisienne, Note Parisienne and Souffle de Parisienne – with all lines include items such as caps, stoles, blouses and pants. 

For instance, the Petite Parisienne evokes the spirit of traditional French working clothes through classic and time-honoured silhouettes updated with playful detailing such as rounded collars or floral motifs hidden under the sleeves. On the other hand, Note Parisienne serves as an expression of basics with draping dresses, beautiful sheer knit wears and soft, delicate chiffons blouses oozing authentic Parisian chic.  

The Ines de la Fressange and Uniqlo collection will be available in Malaysia from March 28^th onwards, exclusive to Fahrenheit88. Selected lines will be available at Suria KLCC store as well.

*Photos courtesy of Uniqlo

Uniqlo - Lot G1.01.00, Ground Floor, Fahrenheit 88, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100, Kuala Lumpur; Concourse Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Jalan Ampang, 50088 Kuala Lumpur.