For all those who want to remain true to themselves in modern and practical clothes for every occasion, Laurence Bras is perhaps one of the most obvious brands. Born in Normandy, the designer, now living in India between Delhi and Goa, has been designing easy-to-wear garments, elegant for the everyday and emphasizing quality and flawless style. At the heart of her new brand, named after her maiden name, Laurence is unveiling her new style: sensible, grounded in reality, and relying on a durable approach. Vogue interviews her.
Who is the Laurence Bras woman?
“It's a woman who enjoys seducing, who perfectly assumes her femininity. Always elegant and chic, she has a wild allure no matter what time of the day it is. And on every occasion, she has a sense of humor, and is super at ease in her sneakers but rides her bike in heels.”
Your vision for pret-a-porter in 2020?
“Pieces which we wear today and can wear in 5, or 10 years: classics. For summer 2021, I am creating a collection made from “khadi”. It is a traditional material, hand woven in Bengal. All the pieces will be dyed using plant-based colorings (indigo, hibiscus, pomegranate). My absolute dream would be to release the collections in accordance with the seasons, rather than winter during the summer and vice versa.”
What's your secret ingredient?
“Creating elegant and chic collections at accessible prices - accessible prices but justified prices. Pieces which require a lot of work such as embroidered dresses with a more couture spirit, and beautiful leather pieces, whose price is justified in their creation. I have a great freedom in my collections; I don't restrain myself creatively. I'm lucky to not use a marketing service, or a commercial service which restrains my creative process. I can express myself freely.”
What is it that inspires you?
“Prints: I find them in markets in India. For cashmere prints, I look in antique dealers in Rajasthan and Kashmire. The women who I grew up with influenced me enormously in their ways of dressing, perfuming themselves, and moving. It's an attitude. Scents affect me strongly and inspire me enormously. I can remember - in my aunt's Austin, the scent of her Shalimar and her wolfskin coat, mixed with the odor of her cigarette. I can imagine my mother when I was little, watching her dress and get ready. She's one of the most chic women I know.”
What are your tips for being more environmentally friendly when it comes to fashion?
"I'm already launching my eco-responsible collection for the next season, with “khadi” fabrics and plant-based colorings. And then what I've been doing all along.
Consume less and higher quality.
Use less plastics.
Buy beautiful materials with pretty cuts.
Don't buy fast fashion t-shirts which will only last a few months and then pollute the environment."
What are the 5 things a woman should always have in her wardrobe?
“White jeans, a man's (velvet) black jacket, a jewelled belt, a man's shirt and a pair of black pointed suede heels (with the perfect neckline).”
The Laurence Bras look which works every time?
“The men's Laurence Bras suit, whose pants were inspired by a vintage Saint Laurent model. Wear with Stan Smiths or heels and a timeless oversized shirt for a masculine spirit.”
The ultimate summer trends?
“Oversized tie-dye pants, worn with a t-shirt. And for this summer, play around with your whole look in cotton crepe: harem pants and my “Cigar” blouse. The pants have an 80s shape with a tight cut and balloon legs. It also reminds me of my mother when she wore Philippe Salvet. A look wearable on the beach or at dinner, depending on the accessories.”
What is the ultimate summer dress trend?
“Wear with pants underneath, or with bare legs. It has a sexy side, which reveals the shoulder - it's sensual. This dress is inspired by Loulou de la Falaise.”
As for bags and shoes?
“For bags: wicker basket bags, whose handles I adapt depending on my mood. And a vintage Hermès which I'll never get rid of. As for shoes, when I'm in Paris I often wear boots or black heels bought at Nina Ricci a few years ago. In India, I wear my "Greece" flip flops which I created this season for Summer 2020.”
What would you say it means to have style?
“Having style is having personality. And it's not the clothing that makes the personality; it's the woman that makes the clothing. Style is energy and it's what I release through the Laurence Bras woman.”
Translated by Ella Jones
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