Vanessa Seward opens the doors to her apartment, designed by architect Jean Dubuisson, a modernist gem. Take this opportunity to discover her collector's wardrobe, which is elegant, sharp and timeless, just like her.
The woman
Having been in Paris for 30 years, Vanessa Seward is one of the Argentinian icons of the French capital. Born in Buenos Aires (the Paris of Argentina) but, having grown up in London, the 50-year-old designer has a fashion CV as long as her legs. After her time at Studio Berçot, this discreet character joined Chanel at the age of 21, where she specialized in accessories. She stayed at 31 rue Cambon for 9 years. She then joined Tom Ford's team when he was designing his first Saint Laurent collection, before branching out herself, at the end of 2002, by relaunching Azzaro, then a sleeping beauty of a label which she breathed new life into for eight years. More recently, she launched her own brand, soberly baptized Vanessa Seward, which lasted three years, before joining forces with La Redoute to create collections as sleek and natural as herself.
The fashion
At a young age, she understood that fashion gave her a kind of superpower. “I have always been very shy and I lacked confidence in myself but clothes gave me strength. When I would wear a certain piece, I felt more beautiful and stronger. I knew how to get noticed and assert my personality through my look. Fashion is my thing. ”
The style
She opts for a feminine look with a perfectly calibrated amount of sensuality. The key? Never looking as though she has tried too had, as well as a focus on timelessness - the star value of a seventies-style wardrobe. “I have essentially kept the same style since my teenage years. I don't want to look back at a photo of myself from 15 years ago and be embarrassed." She is not afraid to have fun while getting dressed. “Fashion is fun, you shouldn't take it too seriously”. This is characterized by her great love of mixing and matching, always carried out with the utmost elegance.
The allure
This might even be more important than style. Vanessa's is a hybrid of Argentina and its symbols (think gaucho belts, lasso-style fringing and hats) and the London of the 1970s where she grew up. “My parents went out every night. My mother was an extremely playful and very beautiful woman and dressed in long dresses which you never seemed to see twice. She lived for that.” Also thrown into the mix is a touch of glam-chic, singular but accessible, at the height of seduction but never disguised.
Elegance
This is about a state of mind rather than following rules. “It's about dressing in accordance with one's personality. Allure transcends style and that’s when the magic happens.”
Wardrobe
Vanessa is a collector. At home, all of the closets have been requisitioned for her clothes, and she has also rented a small studio to store her fashion treasures. "I'm almost ashamed of it, but when you give clothes so much power, it's hard to let go of them." She readily admits having invested more in this collection than in anything else. “It's the only thing I'm good at” she confides, laughing. “I'm bad at decorating, cooking…”
Collector's items
Her first investment: a suede frock coat from the Parisian boutique Anoushka, which at the time cost her more than a month's salary. And then a multitude of memories that come to her from her time at prestigious houses where she was able to work: Chanel bags and jewelry that she designed alongside Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel, Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent or when she was at the head of Azzaro. If she could only keep one? “My wedding dress made especially for me by the Azzaro workshop, when I was the designer of the brand.”
Jewelry
Apart from her Cartier panther watch, which she always keeps on her wrist, her jewelry collection stays put in her precious archives.
Bags
She always opts for a satchel to keep her hands free. Her bag of the moment? A Dior model named Bobby in the house's oblique canvas or the first-ever model featured in vegan leather that she designed for her collaboration with APC, in the summer of 2012: "It just gets better, the older it gets.”
Shoes
There was a time when she wore only heels, scurrying from taxi to taxi perched on at least nine centimeters. Today, with a 10-year-old girl and an apartment in the suburbs, things have changed. Now, she opts for stylish and comfortable shoes which she can take the metro in and stroll around the capital all day long, and still look chic. Her go-to model? The boots from Chanel's Métiers d'Art collection and the platform sandals of her dreams (which super comfortable and sexy at the same time) that she designed for La Redoute.
Evening
Evening-wear is an art form. It’s important to be subtle, because one can quickly fall into disguise or vulgarity. At the moment, she is obsessed with black men's pants worn with statement blouses: with pussycat bows or fringing..
Plans
She is currently working on a book on fashion and style with a capital S. “I am working on a book project at Lattès which I am co-writing with Matthias Debureaux". Also in the works is a new collaboration with La Redoute for Summer 2021."
Fashion eccentricity
The beaded fringed hat that Mia Farrow wears in The Great Gatsby. “My mother gave it to me, but I never dared to wear it."
Beauty
Less is more. Just the right amount of creams and masks, obviously carefully selected: Dr Barbara Strum, Valmont and the Capture line by Dior. How does she get her glow? (It comes from Holidermie supplements). For make-up, she opts for a natural complexion with a touch of eyeliner underneath the eyes, and that's it!
Icons
Charlotte Rampling, Garbo, Bianca Jagger, Bryan Ferry, David Bowie and Gunther Sachs.
Translated by Constance Caiola
Photographer : Adeline Mai
Journalist : Eugénie Trochu
Stylist : Morgane Bedel
Hair and make-up : Sergio Villafane
Video : Etienne Baussan
Video editing: Sofiana Pubill
Production : Mathias Holst
