Purple Magazine
— S/S 2008 issue 9
purple BEST of the SEASON
photographer TERRY RICHARDSON
fashion editor OLIVIER ZAHM
stylist CHRISTOPHER NIQUET
The French woman has become such an international style icon that she herself is now trying to incarnate the fantasy: innate chic, cool sophistication, extreme slimness — although she’s a gourmet of food, a connoisseur of wine and ever hostile to plastic surgery — Rather intellectual, often ironic, and sexually liberated, she still smokes too much, and comes off as arrogant.
Yet, compared to, say, the American woman, the French woman tries to give the impression that she doesn’t take fashion too seriously — so much so that she constantly denies it and even shows some distance to it, though her look is a carefully composed work of art. She might even show a little hostility toward fashion, than publicly acknowledging that she does deeply care and is trying to present an inimatable style — in perpetual but secret competition with her friends.
Without a doubt for her, the most inexcusable faux pas is to look even slightly overdressed, day or night, on the street as much as on the red carpet — something she often thinks of, say, Americans. Her contradictory attitude toward fashion gives her true conviction that her own style is definitely more interesting than that imposed by any trend or fashion mandate.
We invited ten creative Parisians who are involved in fashion to openly interpret the French woman. In collaboration with stylist Christopher Niquet, each of them selected clothes from the summer collections that caught her eye. Terry Richardson captures how the way they dress reveals who they really are.
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EMMANUELLE ALT wears a black silk top, embroidered silver jacket and black suede trousers BALMAIN
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AUDREY MARNAY wears a navy swimsuit with metallic straps CELINE
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CAMILLE BIDAULT-WADDINGTON wears a red tweed suit and wedge heels CHANEL
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ÉLODIE BOUCHEZ wears a ruffled white top UNDERCOVER and golden necklace Élodie’s own
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AUDREY MARNAY wears a black satin and muslin dress DIOR, golden metallic belt VERONIQUE LEROY, and necklace and ring Audrey’s own
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AMIRA CASAR wears a navy tuxedo jacket MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, cotton striped shirt CHANEL, chain bracelets and black leather bag HERMES, black tights FALKE, high heel sandals BALENCIAGA by NICOLAS GHESQUIERE, watch Amira’s own JAEGER LECOULTRE
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VALENTINE FILLOL-CORDIER wears an embroidered black organza mini-dress MIU MIU, high-waist panties GIVENCHY, velvet hat FADE, and rings Valentine’s own
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VALENTINE FILLOL-CORDIER wears black high waist panties GIVENCHY, straw platform wedges with oversized pink flowers JUNKO SHIMADA, and jewelry Valentine’s own
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VICTOIRE DE CASTELLANE wears a black top and pink pleated skirt AZZEDINE ALAIA, straw hat MAISON MICHEL, snakeskin sandals DIOR, and rings DIOR JOALLERIE
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VALENTINE FILLOL-CORDIER wears a patent snakeskin jacket GUCCI, black organza top with white oversized collar MOON YOUNG HEE, and black tutu REPETTO
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AUDREY MARNAY wears a draped gown BLUMARINE, leather ankle boots CHRISTIAN LACROIX, golden necklaces CARTIER, panther bracelet CHANEL, and ring Audrey’s own
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AUDREY MARNAY wears a satin gown YVES SAINT LAURENT, brown suit jacket with white satin collar detail MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, and necklace and ring Audrey’s own
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LUDIVINE SAGNIER wears a leopard print coat A.P.C., and black headband MAISON MICHEL
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LUDIVINE SAGNIER wears blue cotton shorts MARC JACOBS and silver rings PIECE A CONVICTION
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NATACHA RAMSAY wears a black and white printed dress GUCCI, tuxedo jacket ANN DEMEULEMEESTER, and rings Natacha’s own
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JOANNA PREISS wears a golden draped gown HAIDER ACKERMANN, leather and fur sandals BALENCIAGA by NICOLAS GHESQUIERE, and jewelry Joanna’s own
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LUDIVINE SAGNIER wears a printed purple shirt ZUCCA and mini-short MARC JACOBS
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CAMILLE BIDAULT-WADDINGTON wears an orange and pink leopard print cardigan, floral transparent skirt and patent leather shoes LOUIS VUITTON and Camille’s own black hat
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NATACHA RAMSAY wears a belted silk coat BALENCIAGA by NICOLAS GHESQUIERE, and rings and necklace Natacha’s own
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LUDIVINE SAGNIER wears a matching cotton tweed jacket and shorts VERONIQUE LEROY, blue and yellow leather bag UNDERCOVER, and silver rings PIECE A CONVICTION
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JOANNA PREISS wears a white cotton shoulder jacket and little black dress and trousers MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, and black leather sandals BALENCIAGA by NICOLAS GHESQUIERE
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VALENTINE FILLOL-CORDIER wears a white bridal dress and embroidered vest FADE, hat JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER, black patent leather shoes GUCCI, and silver necklace and rings Valentine’s own
