The Inspiration
The modern master of floral prints on art obsessions, dreamy escapades, and redefining romance in fashion.
… DRESS WITH CONFIDENCE? The most empowering aspect of fashion is that feeling you get when you are wearing something in which you feel amazing. My goal has always been to make pieces that feel unique and most importantly, make women feel beautiful. … EXPERIMENT WITH COLOUR? I find Yves Saint Laurent’s use of print, colour, and femininity very inspiring. He was an amazing colourist and a genius. He created an amazing language that is still very influential. When I was a student, anything related to Yves Saint Laurent excited me. I remember seeing the retrospective of his work in the Petit Palais in Paris, and that Russian collection was so bright it almost looked electric. He opened my eyes to how important it is as a designer to experiment and always have that signature that makes it yours. Wear colours that aren’t totally perfect or matching. … ESCAPE TO THE AMALFI COAST? One of my all-time favourite destinations is Villa Tre Ville in Positano. There’s a secret lift on the side of the mountain that goes down to the beach. … START A PERSONAL ART COLLECTION? I love art. It’s a constant source of inspiration and it has also become a bit of an addiction. I started off by collecting contemporary photography and recently purchased a few Jean Cocteau pieces and Jeune Fille by Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita. I could spend endless hours browsing through Sotheby’s and Phillips [de Pury] catalogues; It’s an addiction! … REDEFINE ROMANCE? For every aspect that is feminine, I try to contradict it with one that is more masculine. For every feature that is casual, I like mixing it with something that may be considered precious. Contradiction and juxtaposition is what makes romance work. … LOSE YOURSELF IN A BOOK? Goodbye Picasso by David Douglas Duncan was published a year after his death, in 1974. It’s filled with the most beautiful images. Physically, it is a masterpiece—the cover cloth is bright fuchsia jute and wove in England. It’s dyed to match the background of a Picasso painting.