In December, for a special edition called Power of Fashion (oh yeah), American Vogue asked me to participate in their Index. The Vogue Index is the practical guide to fashion. With the adorable (and patient) Meredith Melling Burke, we decided to talk about the lingerie trend. Of course, we needed to find a “street” angle to it. And a springtime angle as well. Even it was in December.

And yeah, it wasn’t the easiest task in the world.

- And on top of that, my calendar’s craziness made me do this whole project during my Christmas vacation. Au revoir vacation.

- And where was I during my Christmas vacation? In Corsica. I bet you’d have quite the time trying to find a good girl for Vogue US around Christmas in Ajaccio.

- And the clothes!!! Where am I going to find the clothes!

- Add to that it was -12 degrees Celsius + plus a total deluge during vacation. (Seriously, not kidding here, A DELUGE)(Boats couldn’t leave for two days) and then you’ve got the perfect picture of my all-nighters. And I had promised Scott we’d be eating oysters on the beach while I sing the praises of the sublime, temperate skies of my native island… It just isn’t fair. C’mon weather, how could you do this to me? I’m telling you, Scott gave me quite the evil eye.

But hey, it’s okay because to be fair, the summer before, he brought me to the Hamptons and you could cut through the fog with a knife until around noon, and then in the afternoon, nothing but rain. So yeah, cram it Americans.

So.

Luckily, my mom knows everyone in town.

- Let me make a little aside here to point out that MY MOTHER, in AJACCIO, was helping me with a shoot for VOGUE US. I dunno… It just hit me the right way.

… My mom knows everyone in town including Marthe, the adorable owner of the boutique Joséphine, which sells Chloé, Stella, Paul Smith, and lots of other good stuff that I have to stop myself from spending all my time drooling over everything whenever I’m in town for the weekend. Together with my mother, they left no stone unturned in the entire town and found the superb Paula. And on top of that, Marthe said to me,

“For the shoot, you can take whatever you’d like from my shop.”

Corsicans, they’re not kidding when they talk about having each others’ backs. Tsss, just wait. Anna Wintour? Who’s that? No problem we’re all over it! So I chose an amaaaaazing lacey Paul Smith dress that was DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. Between a couple photos, we ate cheese and canistrelli. It was my two worlds coming together. Pure joy. FRATELLIIIIII !!! Okay okay, deep breaths, Garance.

All’s well except for that night, Scott was heading out from Campo Dell’Oro (the Ajaccio airport, wait, you didn’t already know that?)

- Aside : SCOTT, in AJACCIO. I dunno… It just hit me the right away. He loved the grilled figatelli, like LOVED IT.

I was so proud I showed him my photos. And then he says to me, “Where’s the “street” angle exactly? This dress could totally be haute couture!”

Oh shit, shiiiiiiit!!! THE STREET ANGLE! I was so happy to have found a model and some outfits that I totally forgot. I tried to have him look at it again, but nothing. It wasn’t going to work. Had to reshoot.

Okay, this post is already way too long. WAYYYYYY too long and I have to head out to a casting. You want to hear the rest or are you good with this mini-story about a fashionista in Corsica?

Translation: Tim Sullivan

Here’s a few select morsels from my weekend, because if I told you everything, it’d take all day.

Okay so yeah, sorry, it’s still gonna take all day.

Friday, 10:35 a.m. : You know what? I thought it was spring already. I wore an oversized button-down, a mini-trench, and soon there’ll be an oversized flu.

10:35 : I love Paris fashion week. Each day is exceptional. Today, Vionnet, Dior, Isabel Marant, Lanvin + an opening + A Purple Party that I won’t be going to because I’ll be too tired. Lemmie tell you, it won’t be anytime soon that I’ll be your party reporter.

12:45 : My jeans fell down. Oh my god I lost some weight!!! At the same time, breakfast today: 15 peanuts. Yep, but at Meurice now, Ahaha.

4:00 : I want to film at Isabel Marant, so I have to jump across the entire city in negative 30 minutes. … As the show was supposed to start at 3:30.

4:15 : I made it! Melanie and Anna from Vogue (who has a chauffeur)(During fashion week, the world is divided into two categories, those with chauffeurs and those without)(I’m with the withouts.)

4:35 : Backstage as Isabel Marant, I’m crawling on the floor four steps away from Isabel trying to film her shoes. You’ll have the result soon.
4:37 : Backstage at Isabel Marant, I attack the fruit plate. … Just because there’s no champagne.
4:38 : Backstage at Isabel Marant, I want these red leather pants right away.

6:34 : Just like after every Lanvin show, I’m in a state of perfect happiness. I see Clémence Poésy coming toward me, “How you doing Garance? It’s so good to see you!” Wow, and I only met her once. This girl’s golden.

Saturday, 10:03 : Got an invitation from Max Mara for an intimate dinner at Caviar Caspia. Didn’t have a lot of time to conceptualize my outfit (I need a styliiiiiiiist!!! Jaaaaaade! Getting dressed for fashion weeks is a full-time job!!!) I wear some baggy pants and a simple shirt because I’m a wreck.  I get there and everyone is pretty much in black tie. Carine is head-to-toe in gold, Franca Sozzani is shimmering, Alexandra Golovanoff is… sublime as always. I’m beginning to understand what intimate means for Max Mara around the time Suzy Menkes gets there and sits between Scott and me.

10:02 : …

10:35 : What’s so great in fashion is when you have one of those encounters that illuminate and shed light on the journey. Suzy Menkes is incredible, irresistible, curious, personable, and brilliant. I expected no less, but still, I’m in paradise.

I want to sit here and tell you our conversation second by second (seriously I remeber EVERYTHING) but Tim (the angel who translates my texts) would kill me.

11:45 : Caviar potatoes, no worries, THEY’RE HERE.

And then… No Montana. Are you crazy? Straight to bed for me.

Sunday 9:55 : Totally running late in the taxi on the way to Karl Lagerfeld. It’s at Tuileries. I love the atmosphere, the light there, always so pretty, so epic, alwa…

Okay we’re here.

10:00 : F*@# Sh%* IT’S FREEZING!!!

10:15 : so cold that I can’t type anymore, myyyyyyyyyyyyy haaaaaaaanddsssss froze.

11:35 : Chris meets up with me at Starbucks. We finished the Dolce & Gabbana video. So much work last week that we didn’t have time… And editing takes a crazy amount of time! It’s so awesome but it takes so much time! And I don’t want to be late to Céline at 1:00!

3:00 : WOW.

3:00 : Céline, Céline, Céline. The strongest show this Fashion Week. Collective exhilaration… what’s a good word for that? A show with so much anticipation and so well received that the public didn’t even let the models finish before running to the back to congratulate Phoebe backstage. It gives a spontaneously joyful twist at the end to a show so meticulously orchestrated. For the first time, right in front of my eyes, a new woman, a new inspiration takes form. But I’ll tell you all about it so soon: between Scott, Chris and I, we got the whole thing on film.

For the first time since the start of fashion week, I’m overexcited.

To commemorate, we have a glass of wine at Castiglione. Any reason’s a good reason.

5:55 : It’s after Sonia Rykiel, always awesome and fun, and I’ve got a cup of The Sweetest Hot Chocolate on Earth at The Worst Bistrot in Paris. I’m high on sugar, I’ll let you go.

8:15  : On my way to Givenchy!!! These days are so crazy. They never end. And it’s been like this for almost a month. Give me some vitamins, a massage, and some coffee, my friends, I need a life back.

1:15 a.m. : I’m rereading my post and finishing off a box of Muesli sprawled out on my couch in grey jogging pants. Totally un-glam. It feels so good.

Okay, I’m off to Stella. Bonne journée!

Translation : Tim Sullivan.

I think the first time I saw Tabitha, she was cracking up laughing. I fell for her right then and there. It was on a shoot where she was the stylist in the middle of winter. We all got snuggled up in nice warm clothes, wrapped up like eskimos, yet she had the little detail of a pair of killer Balenciaga boots that I practically screamed at from behind her.

Shoes are great ice-breakers for girls. You don’t know each other, and then suddenly you’ve got something to talk about for hours and hours. I’d bet some of the greatest friendships were born from a pair of pumps. And that’s how I learned that Tabitha was incredibly passionate about shoes and that she was almost ready to release her own collection.

The tension was killing me and I made her promise to keep me updated. And here’s the result:

I love people who go to the ends of their passion. A little like Anna with her amazing eyeglasses (that are crazily successful. I’m so happy for her!), everything started for Tabitha with some impulse and a dream. She released them without second guessing herself. No easy task, but I can’t even imagine the happiness that came when she first saw the results. And now she’s on her third collection.

I like that she keeps a more confidential and intimate side to her brand. When she presents her new collection, she does it at her own apartment… And I like that she always gives her shoes a name, and often it’s the names of her friends.

Grace Coddington? Sophie Dahl? Karen Elson? Oh yeah, sorry. Forgot to mention… Tabitha Simmons is fashion director for American Vogue. No biggie. I guess that would create quite a few connections. But at the same time, that could trap someone in a single role, have her put other creative endeavors aside. That sometimes happens when you’re in a high up position.

But to the contrary, with her shoes, she’s gone in a very personal direction. They’re non-conformist, daring, and sometimes go against trends.

So there you have it. I’m not going to spend hours upon hours telling you about how much I admire and adore her. It’ll start to get to be a little too much, and you can see for yourself just how irresistible she is in these photos. (Oh, and you will maybe see even more since Chris made another one of his videos.) But I just think it’s so cool how she made her own brand, not to get in her own way, to take risks, to create and reinvent. Yep, I think it’s so cool that I can’t help but gush all over the place and want to share every last little bit with you! Okay, I’m off! Big hugs!

PS: I’m going to be with Scott at his book signing in a bit, so if you’re in Madrid, come give us a hello! And if you know some amazing places that are not to be missed in Madrid or Barcelona, you gotta tell us!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

Yasmin, one of the coolest girls on earth, am I right? While I was in London this past trip, I made a stop at her place to take some photos for Vogue.com.

I spent a long and magic afternoon there talking about fashion, trips, spirituality (you really have to read the article in British Elle where Yasmin talked about her spirtual life)(You want me to scan it in for you?) all while devouring a bowl of hummus.

To me, Yasmin is a true model of a woman, independent, creative, spirtual, beautiful, funny and happy, and at the end of this Une fille, Un Style, she might even let out the secret of her amazing hair-cut…

You can click on the images to make them bigger. And now, I’m off to Balmain, yaaaaaaahhh… Bonne journee!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

An inspiring fashion editorial is a surge of inspiration. It’s like when I was 12 and I’d tear through my mom’s fashion magazines. I’d find a universe that transported me, a girl I suddenly wanted to be, a story that excited me that I saw myself a part of.

Except at the time, the name of the photographers were written really small on the edge, and the stylists were barely ever even listed. Luckily now, their work is far more recognized.

I loved the editorial in September’s Vogue. And it’s no surprise that it was by Anastasia Barbieri.

This editorial, it’s pure Anastasia. The masculine wardrobe, the relaxed femininity, the subtle touches, precious accessories… And a strong personality.

So there, and now, Anastasia, you wanna give me your Margiela suit? Maybe?

Herumf, no worries, I love you anyway!

Big hugs, bonne journée!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

I know, I know, you’re not here. You are all on vacation* stuffing yourselves with chocolate while I’m at home sorting through things, sipping green tea and sitting in lotus position in the middle of:

- An Empire State Building of magazines that I have yet to file. I’m incapable of throwing magazines away before having re-read/catalogued/torn them apart: it drives me crazy. Last time, I even hid the contents of the super-heavy boxes away from my friends who were helping me move—it wasn’t AT ALL Nietzsche. It was my old collection of The Face, I.D, 20 years and Vogue that have followed me everywhere since always. Sorry about your back, Alex.

- A Himalayan mountain chain of clothes that have yet to pass the fashion inspection. Did I really need to buy this Hawaiian-print jumper? Will I wear these Chloe babies before 2023? What fate will befall this bubble skirt? Today is the day these questions will be answered. Aloha patent ballerinas!

- A Tower of Babel worth of makeup to inspect. So, 652 glosses, 78 nail polishes and 370 plumping, lengthening, volumizing, fortifying, vibrating mascaras that have all promised to change the life of my eyes, thus the life of my life. And if I have the time, I’ll clean my brushes, call my aunt, wash my curtains, answer all of my emails and I’ll, I’ll…

You now see the reason behind the lotus position and the green tea: it’s to force me to stay zen. Because if this goes the way it does every time, by tonight I’ll still be here, sprawled out in the middle of my stuff, dressed in my Aloha jumper and my Chloe babies over my bubble skirt, with lip-gloss on my eyes and tubes of mascara neatly tucked behind my ears, because it’s important to try things on before you decide, surrounded by tons of magazine clippings still waiting to be organized. A friend will call asking where I am because our reservations were for 8 o’clock, and I’ll abandon the mess in the living room…

Anyway, if by chance you are here and not in the process of stuffing yourselves with chocolate (big mistake!) you can go take a look at my column in Vogue. I published Mélinda and Masha’s Une Fille, Un Style, two wonderful girls who have about as many overstocked clothing problems as I do…But who doesn’t, right?

I send you all my love and wish you all a peaceful Easter Monday!

* in Europe, everyone gets Easter Monday off from work

Translation : Maya-Catherine Popa

So here’s what’s up… It’s official.  I’m overloaded.

Today then, just a teeny wink of a post to tell you that I’m running in all directions. The men’s collections start today and as soon as they’re over, I’ll hop a plane to Stockholm for yet another fashion week…

Next stop: Rome, where I was invited to speak at a conference…

Can you believe that? A conference?

My profs must be squirming at their podiums.

Anyways, I hope to have lots of adventures and images to share with you.

In the mean time, if you’d like, take a glance over at Vogue.com.  You’ll find my photos of Elisa Nalin and Daphné Bürki, two ladies that make me laugh, who inspire me and leave me smiling brightly, cheek to cheek.

You’re all close to my heart, à demain!

Translation : Magali Eva Suárez & Tim Padraic Sullivan.

There are times when I realize that, other than the fact that I reveal a good part of my life on this blog, I also get to show you a living diary of the friends I make. As for Celestine, I had run into her during the fashion weeks. Her looks are incredible, sexy, punchy, refined and fun.

I bumped into her again in London and we exchanged a few pleasantries. She made me laugh with her Irish accent and her electrifying energy enough to cause the Tube’s system to break down.

I suggested to take her pictures for Vogue.com. She agreed with a resounding YES and later, I found myself at her place. Of course, the train was out of order so I arrived late by taxi. We had to do the shoot at full speed which proved to be in sync with Celestine’s rhythm.

We even took time to have a little breakfast and go for a smoke. She burst into laughter because she admitted to smoking only during FWs. [One day, I must make a list of the things that people do only during these events; that would be funny]. Since I was pressed for time and this girl was such an angel, she drove me back to town in her mini race car. Yup. Speed-dating style.

When we saw each other again in Paris, we finally could have coffee for real. We had just come from the Stella McCartney show (see player on the right for an excerpt of the music).

We were delighted, seated under the sun and puffing away the self-imposed “fashion week cigarettes.” We were truly happy.

Incidentally, she brought her portfolio with her. At last, I was able to take a look at all the fashion spreads she had styled. At that moment, I realized there was nothing to be surprised about. When you like somebody’s style, you’re bound to appreciate that person’s work as well. No wonder I loved Celestine’s!

Truth be told, I’ve only recently been taking notice of the stylist responsible for a certain fashion spread. And yet, God knows to what extent a beautiful spread can make me go raving about it like crazy. The same way a movie, a book or a beautiful song does it for me.

I love fashion spreads that are full of ideas, that adapt, or mix personal and designer creations with vintage ones… Even if they’re the kind of stuff that I don’t readily find in stores which is perfectly a-okay, by the way.. I couldn’t care less about ridiculously expensive things. For me, creativity is what counts most.

And in this field, you can’t get enough of Celestine. And not only during fashion weeks. ;-)

See what I mean and check her out here on Vogue.com’s Une Fille, Un Style.

Translation : Magali Eva Suárez.

You remember my little trip to the festival in Stockholm? You remember when I spoke about my spread on the new Vogue.com? Hey ,tell me, do you remember Sofia? What do you mean, no? Okay. Let’s review.

Sofia, who I met in Paris, and who I had promised to show you again if I ever was in Sweeden, well, for once in my life, I have kept my promise: I asked her to be my first Une Fille, Un Style (One Girl, One style). So we spent an afternoon together. It was so great that in the end we spent the evening together as wel, living it up. At times, life can be pretty cool.

A little while later, I went to New York, remember? In NYC, I spent the afternoon with Rumi, who turned up at my place with a suitcase full of her favorite pieces and her adorable boyfriend to carry it. Amazing girl. Amazing time. I love taking photos with her.

I also took advantage of my time in New York to visit the adorable Erika, of the group Au Revoir Simone, in her neat little corner of Brooklyn, Williamsburg.

Lots of images, lots of little adventures…

I’ve only left one thing to tell you about. I waited till the end to announce my new section on Vogue.com

And here it is, Vogue.com. It has been online since yesterday with my Une Fille, Un Style (One girl, One style.) There are still some adjustments left to do, some flaws to patch up, but the ball is rolling.

I’ll be doing two posts per month and I’ll keep you up to date when they come out. I think little by little I’ll find my stride in the new format. It somehow wants to be more intimate than the street style photos that I’m used to. In the future, I’ll dwell more on the women in their true environments, in their apartments, in their dressing rooms…

I’m delighted with this new exercise. It’s like a new adventure. These meetings have inspired me quite a bit and have pushed me to go a little further and amped up my enthusiasm. I hope it inspires you as well.

Have a good day !

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