‘Redoubtable’. This was the word spelt out across French fashion designer Vanessa Seward’s sweatshirt at the London launch of her new collection for La Redoute...
Meaning fierce and awe-inspiring, it couldn’t be more apt.
Originally from Argentina, the designer’s career was built first at Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld, then at Yves Saint Laurent under Tom Ford, and latterly at Azzaro – each time making women look and feel ‘redoutable’.
As her Instagram proclaims: ‘My greatest victory is when women tell me that my clothes help them express their personality’.
“I am inspired by strong women,” Seward explains at the launch. “My look is quite clean, a certain neo Bourgeois French street style, I wanted to reflect this. The sweatshirt has the word ‘Redoutable’, a play on the brand name but what it means in French also appealed to me.”
Today, as well as her own line which shows at Paris fashion week, she is bringing her Parisian chic with a sprinkling of pedestrian practicality to her 32-piece collection for the French online/catalogue brand.
We love it because there is so much that will answer a busy mother’s prayers.
“I am like lots of Parisian girls, I am always in a trench coat but I was always very frustrated when it rains and I forget my umbrella!” Seward explains. “So I looked everywhere for one with a hood – I am sure it exists but I couldn’t find it, so I made it.”
She has combined the staple with some great leather boots with a manageable 7cm heel – “I can’t run around Paris in anything higher!” she says – and there is a chambray pussy bow blouse and dress as well as masculine tailored jeans for when you want to look smart but not too stiff and formal. Top of our list is the real-leather paper-bag waist trousers going on sale in November.
There is also an adorable mini-me hooded trench and dress inspired by her nine-year-old daughter, who models in the campaign.
She describes some of the highlights of her collection as being like lucky stars.
“I always have them,” she says. “Kate Middleton wearing a dress of mine one month before I opened a store in London was one.”
We can’t wait to look this ‘redoutable’.
Go to www.laredoute.com