Ines de la Fressange

 She exudes power, elegance and a certain freedom that French women always seem to naturally possess.  Ines de la Fressange is a woman of pure beauty, grace and inspiration.  From her start as a muse for Karl Lagerfeld to her creative revamp of Roger Vivier ~ Ines has followed her passion for fashion throughout her 52 years.

 

She was the first model ever to be signed to an exclusive contract with an haute couture fashion house ~ which just so happened to be Chanel.

 

Her style is so chic and effortless!  Its no wonder that she has been spending her days designing, opening boutiques, consulting for the likes of Gautier and most recently reinventing the iconic French shoe company Roger Vivier.

 

And reinvent she did!  Ines put her heart and soul into making Vivier's name become known loud and clear.  She built a stunning office (which was much needed) and began doing all of the PR, operations, directing and sales meetings herself.  What I find most fascinating is how unconventional the whole thing seemed to be.

 

She was quoted in Interview magazine saying "It was very funny to be putting together a luxury brand on all fours. Even when we moved in here, one minute I was letting in Anna Wintour, and the next I was going to buy garbage cans. I was going to the flea markets to buy furniture."

 

 Everything was on a very small scale, very grass roots and Ines is not afraid to work hard for what she wants.  I also love the fact that she would hold sales meetings over lots of wine and delicious food inviting a myriad of personalities along ( "a writer, a psychoanalyst, a banker, a lawyer, a mind reader, a fashion journalist and an actress").  These lunches were filled with intriguing conversation, lots of laughter and visual collages that I'm sure made quite an impact.  Not following the protocol whatsoever the clients wouldn't even get a press package but all of this because she knows exactly what makes a memorable moment ~ or a memorable name in this case and it seems to be paying off.

{Ines de la Fressange's inspirational office on The Selby}

{Photo sources: 1. Paolo Roversi for Interview 2. photobucket 3, 4, 5. madame lefigaro 6. The Selby}

Tweet