Fashion Essentials
Fashion Essentials My Bonne Maman Taught Me:
Fashion is a statement that doesn’t know age. At least not in my family. My bonne maman is the fashion icon of our family. She’s inspired us all with her great sense of choosing to get timeless pieces with spark that last a century. In her situation literally, she’s 97 years old and still wears her embroidered silk dresses from her youth in Malaysia, and New York. She’s told me that story of our French relative that told her: What you need is a big enough wardrobe. She’s living after this motto with a remarkable and sophisticated sense of style. The exclusive pieces she’s invested in are very much along the line of the sustainable fashion we’re all aiming for. It’s about choosing your pieces wisely, exclusive, high quality pieces that last. Focus on quality, rather than quantity, silk, cashmere, leather, and occasionally linen. Bonne maman’s a master of playing with accessories to pimp her style. Her jewellery, scarfs, bags, and shoes always match. She mixes high end diamonds, heritage jewellery with bijouterie, and artisan pieces from her travels around the world. It looks casual and unpretentious, a genuine and unique style of her own.
She loves clutches, for example, and in every of her handbags you can find a lipstick from Chanel, YSL, or lately Hermes. Something, I noticed myself doing too. Lipsticks are THE thing I find in all my bags. Isn’t it fascinating how we unconsciously inherit certain things?
Top Ten Essentials:
Invest in pieces that last.
Buy natural fabric cotton, silk, cashmere, linen, and leather.
Stay true to your style.
Play with accessories, rather than running after the latest fashion trends.
Mix and match brands with vintage.
Be able to tell a story of every piece you get.
Support local, young, and female brands.
Comfort and style don’t contradict each other.
Imagine a weekend trip, buy only what you’d bring along.
Never stop dreaming, envision how empowered you’d feel by wearing the piece you’re about to get.
