The Born of an Icon

Inès de La Fressange, born in 1957, at Gassin, in Provence, is a French model, whose real and rather imposing name is Inès Marie Laetitia Eglantine de Seignard de La Fressange. Her career in the fashion sector includes both modeling and designer works.

World renowned for her “effortless chic” style, Inès is discovered and launched by the magazine Elle. At 17 years old she modeled for Kenzo and Mugler and for international maisons like Dior, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Yves Saint Laurent.

The meeting with Karl Lagerfeld

In 1984 she signed an exclusive contract with Chanel, the maison guided by Karl Lagerfeld. She has a natural aristocratic elegance and her face has been chosen to portray France on coins.

Renowned for her unique style, given by Inès’ ability in mixing haute couture accessories with cheaper clothing, in the 1990s she left Chanel to become a designer of clothing and house linen. La Fressange herself talks about the Parisian style in terms of “a handbag that costs more than the whole outfit put together”. A style described by the designer in the book Parisian Chic, A style guide, written with Sophie Gachet. 

After the end of the collaboration with Lagerfeld and Chanel, La Fressange works with brands like Jean-Paul Gaultier and becomes brand ambassador of Roger Vivier, at Diego della Valle will.

Inès de La Fressange, the brand

She opened her first boutique in Avenue Montaigne in Paris, at the beginning, followed by more boutiques in Japan and Europe. The homonymous brand is created in collaboration with Henry Recamier, director of Louis Vuitton and LVMH, from 1977 and 1993. In 1993 the direction goes to François Louis Vuitton. 

The brand collections features menswear, women’s wear and baby clothing, in perfect parisian style. As La Fressange says she wants to offer a store in where a woman can find a coat for herself and a dress for her little girl, at the same time. 

Inès de La Fressange x Uniqlo

Moreover, since 2014 the designer regularly collaborates with the Japan brand Uniqlo, with whom La Fressange shares the love for a style that is always elegant and affordable at the same time.

The Louis Vuitton trial

In July 2000 the designer was fired by the majority shareholder, François Louis Vuitton, from her own brand. La Fressange was accused of having designed a line of soaps without the authorization of the majority shareholder. The court ruled the action unjustified, condemning Vuitton to pay damages. The sum fixed by the court was still rather low for a case of this nature, about 260,000 dollars.

The comeback of Inès

In 2001 La Fressange returned to the catwalk for Moschino, Eric Bergère, Jean Paul Gaultier and to fashion photographic services for Elle and Marie Claire. Furthermore, in 2014 she comes back to the direction of her own brand.

La Fressange perfumes collection

In 2004 the fashion icon launches a female fragrance signed Inès de La Fressange. The perfume is followed by other fragrances, produced some years later. In 2019 the model presents her new perfumes line, including six Eau de Cologne and two Eau de Parfume. 

The six cologne are inspired by Inès’ favourite travels and spots. They are “olfactory postcards” as she calls them. Atelier Medina is dedicated to Morocco, Bella storia talks about Italy, Holi Palace evoque India, Indigo Kimono is an homage to Japan, Ciel Frigolet talks about her childhood in Provence and Bloom Boum is dedicated to England. Meanwhile, the other two fragrances take ispiration from the Iris flower, as per Blac Chic, and to the Rose flower, in Or Choc. The perfume line has been made with the help of Sophie Labbé and Delphine Lebeau from the International Flavors & Fragrances house.