FLORENCE COOLS
We ask fashion’s preeminent talents to mine their inspirations and curate their world through style. Florence Cools, creative director of La Collection, the minimalist label with an elevated ease, and one of the newest labels in the Harrolds stable, elect
1. “I love the mid-century modern wave, especially its French designers and architects such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand, Pierre Jeanneret, and Jean Prouvé, who did such amazing things. I have many books and my perfect Sunday consists of wandering through all of these.”
2. “I have a thing with scents; I am sure I could blindly point out everyone I have ever met simply by smelling their perfume. My personal favourite is Sunny Side Up by Juliette Has a Gun.”
3. “I have always admired the style of Georgia O’Keeffe. The simply cut pieces with signature black and white details make my heart skip many beats. Another style I have admired since being a young girl is that of nuns – again those black and white details, the covered layers they wear. Many pieces from our collection have been inspired by their uniforms. I translate them into flowy gowns and rather masculine tailoring.”
4. “My favourite throw-on-and-go pieces are the Modesty blazer dress, which you can wear both as a dress or layered as a coat, and our Phoebe trousers, which are so loose and effortless but dressy at the same time. I pair them with a T-shirt and a blazer, a big knit, or a simple shirt.”
5. “If there is one thing I cannot get tired of it is discovering all the small streets and corners in the world. I loved travelling with my husband in Capri a few years ago … such a romantic island. But both of us also love to spend a lot of time at the French Riviera, and Morocco, our winter getaway when we want to relax and enjoy everything beautiful around us. On our list is Madagascar; a wonder of the world we still need to see.”
6. “During the lockdown I saw Le Mépris for the very first time – Brigitte Bardot in a FrenchItalian movie by Jean-Luc Godard. I love every detail of this film: the scenery of Casa Malaparte against the rocks of Capri, and the story of the traditional clash between commercial America and artistic Europe.”