On the eve of Bastille Day, I was delighted to be interviewed by the AFR'S fashion editor, Lauren Sams. I hope you enjoy the read.French style is all about je ne sais quoi. What does that mean?Lauren Sams Fashion Editor The Australian Financial ReviewEffortless chic is much admired, but pinning it down is the tricky part for those of us who aspire to emulate it. When Coco Chanel said elegance is refusal, she defined – in a wonderfully apt, three-word mantra – French style. Reams have been written about what exactly constitutes that certain je ne sais quoi that is the...
Favoured by stars ranging from Brigitte Bardot to Audrey Hepburn, Breton tops – with their statement stripes and easy shape – have long been a wardrobe staple. Touted by stylish insiders as one of the transition items to take us from working from home to emerging out into the world, the familiar stripes have been spotted recently on the Duchess of Cambridge, Anna Wintour and actress Camille Razat from Emily in Paris.The Breton, sometimes also called la marinière (sailor), is quintessentially French.In 1858, the striped shirt became the official uniform of the French navy. The design featured 21 stripes, which were...