Inès de la Fressange: Style Is a State of Mind
- Nathalie Dassa
- 3 hours ago
- 5 min read
On instinct, independence, and why wandering remains the ultimate luxury.
There are women whose presence transcends fashion, whose style feels less constructed than instinctive. Inès de la Fressange is one of them. Muse to Chanel, creator of her own namesake brand, inspiring businesswoman, author, and living symbol of the Parisian woman myth, she embodies a form of elegance that is simple, discreet, and timeless. Today, as she marks the tenth anniversary of her Paris boutique and spends time in Provence, Inès de la Fressange reflects on a life shaped by intuition, independence, and a singular vision of French art de vivre. With us, she goes back in time.
“Wasting time and wandering around is the real luxury”
There isn't a single photo of her without a radiant smile. Throughout her career, Inès de la Fressange has “dared to be different from others,” establishing her style at a very young age, very early on, very quickly.
Through her collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, she became the reincarnation of Madame Coco. Her professionalism and her sidesteps, where shyness mingled with whimsy, made her a fashion icon in the 1980s, foreshadowing the era of supermodels. She marked the debuts of photographers Paolo Roversi and Oliviero Toscani, while walking the catwalks of some forty fashion shows per season in Paris.
This path, marked by many twists and turns, led her to develop a philosophy of life, where elegance and grace go hand in hand with authenticity and simplicity. “I was a model who worked a lot, and some people told me it was a shame to give up my career for an ‘old’ fashion house like Chanel,” she recalled with humor. “People thought it was for older women, not 25-year-olds. I took a risk by signing the very first exclusive contract, but above all, I followed my instincts. Our choices are also a question of personality.”
Her close relationship with the Kaiser of fashion was decisive, giving her a role that went beyond that of a model. “He and I invented what is now known as a ‘brand ambassador,’ without ever having a single meeting,” she continued. “He hinted that I would one day become a stylist. I didn't think I had that kind of imagination; I was more interested in designing clothes for everyday women. He helped me understand that there was another way to create. He was the best teacher and the best school.”
Inès de la Fressange has never sought to be fashionable, absorbing the spirit of the times without ever going out of style. Even today, she lives her life according to her desires. With her serene beauty, chic in all circumstances, and ability to let go, she showed that aristocracy and popular culture could coexist, without giving it any credit. “I never thought about it or even used that word. At the beginning of my career, I didn't even give my last name. I only did what I wanted, which could have been frowned upon, but people called it ‘style.’ Over the years, I realized that it was better to go with your gut feeling.”
Her style and grace lie in her courage to remain true to herself. “When I decided to leave Chanel, my friends advised me against it, fearing I would fade into obscurity. But it didn't seem that daring to me; I had no other choice. It was funny to see how attitudes had changed in seven years.”
Living life to the fullest and not being afraid to follow your instincts are central tenets of her philosophy on life as well as her approach to fashion. “I feel like a little artisan,” she confided. “Over time, you recognize the clothes that help you feel better. When people see my wardrobe, they expect embroidered dresses, long gowns, and a multitude of things, but they realize how simple it is.
There are white jeans, sweaters, loafers, men's shirts, sky blue and white shirts. Women add accessories thinking it will brighten up their outfits, when it's they themselves who should be cheerful. They also accumulate too many luxury items when they reach a certain level of purchasing power. Ultimately, this turns them into grannies. We're not clothes hangers!
"Clothes are made to make you feel good. And when you feel good, other people think you look good.”
Over a fifty-year career, she has not only touched her own generation, but also new ones, influenced by her style through brands such as Sœur. She remains attentive to the vision and fashion choices of her daughters, Nine and Violette, and their friends. “When you design clothes that you want to sell, you have to keep up with what's going on. They have good taste and often choose the new cashmere in my wardrobe. I'm proud and happy that they have this sense of style.”
Similarly, heritage and modernity remain strong ties for her, influencing her work over time. “Transmission is important in my profession, where history and fashion intertwine. Even if we draw inspiration from the past, the present moment will always shine through. Many people say they are impervious to fashion, when in fact they are influenced by it without even knowing it. Our desires reflect the spirit of the times.”
She also likes to play with the unexpected. Her 2025 line evokes “serendipity,” where chance discoveries prove fruitful. “The collection says nothing about me, but about my schedule and fortuitous encounters.”
October saw the convergence of several collaborations (Dim, Smeg), marked by the tenth anniversary of her boutique on Rue de Grenelle in Paris. It was a rewarding time, characterized by perseverance and renewal. Reclaiming her brand was a fifteen-year battle. It is also a testament to the strength and elegance of Inès de la Fressange. “Justice was served. As soon as I was gone, it fell apart,” she summed up.
Despite her vicissitudes, she continues to shine. The Roger Vivier ambassador also presented the Salon de l’Héritage, which she designed for Maison Vivier, newly located in an 18th-century mansion on Paris’s Rive Gauche. In November, she released her guidebook, in which the Parisian takes over Provence, not far from her home in Tarascon. She favors slightly gourmet restaurants and local bistros, espadrilles and boots from a saddlery. She might visit the Saint-John Perse exhibition, buy a book by Sartre, and stop by Miu Miu for some loafers. “It’s a mix — and always a state of mind.”
La Parisienne en Provence offers a curated selection of places to visit in the region for those who enjoy “reading under an olive tree, taking a nap, going for a walk, or visiting the markets.” Today, Inès de la Fressange is deliberately slowing her pace. “Wasting time and wandering around is the real luxury,” she says. “2026 will be the year of pottery — a wonderful form of meditation that calms me.”
In an age obsessed with speed, novelty, and visibility, her vision feels quietly radical: a reminder that true elegance is not about accumulation or performance, but about knowing when to pause, when to wander, and when — above all — to follow one’s instincts.
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