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Le chenil -
Le chenil -
Le chenil -
Sketch - L'hiver froid -
L'hiver froid -
L'hiver froid -
L'hiver froid -
L'hiver froid -
Sketch - Les filles en blanc -
Les filles en blanc -
Les filles en blanc -
Les filles en blanc -
Les filles en blanc -
Sketch - L' usine -
L'usine -
L'usine -
Sport 90 -
Sport 90 -
Sport 90 -
Sport 90 -
And so it happens that a boy who was born and raised in an area amidst the lavender fields in the south of France, at 18 decided to radically change his life and move to Paris to work in fashion. His name is Simon Porte Jacquemus and has a very clear idea of what he wants. He is inspired by a female muse, a vulnerable but determined style icon who deceives but loves, suffers and seduces: it’s the French actress and singer Isabelle Adjani.
Once in Paris, Simon studied fashion design for three months, then worked as a stylist assistant until he decided that he was ready and in 2009 he moved to a small atelier in Montmartre to work on his collection. In tune with the decade he was born, his style is also very much a product of the 90’s and it’s those fashion codes that he chose for his creations whilst mixing them a hint of naïvety, sensuality and authentic pop culture.
His style takes cues from grunge to which he adds a contemporary edge; it is sophisticated but minimal, underground but fashioned in ultra-modern cuts and shapes. Each season features a different theme always embodied by a modern woman with a penchant for retro. All begins with a story that the designer expresses – since the last two seasons also by means of a video – through his clothes. This way Simon plays the role of the narrator, that of the film-maker and costume designer, all in one.
His latest collection Le Chenil (The kennel) is a wardrobe comprising only dresses: in white, lavender, navy and red in several lengths. "I wanted to tell the story of a solitary woman who has grown tired of men and has decided to devote her life to dogs. The colour palette is inspired by the nurses’ uniform while the silhouette by the nuns’ clothes. The overall result is a hybrid between the religious habit and the uniform. They are serial dresses: all looking alike, as authentic uniforms. At the same time, they could have easily been found in his grandma’s trunk given that they feature a “worn” feel. They are perfect to convey the story I’ve imagined. That’s how my collections come about: first the plot, then the clothes. Never, the opposite".
After only four collections (Hiver-Froid and Les Filles en Blanc, L'usine, and now Le Chenil), Jacquemus’ line is already stocked in boutiques as prestigious as Opening Ceremony, Dover Street Market, Maria Luisa Hong Kong and Biffi. Not bad for a self-taught dreamer.
Name
Simon Porte Jacquemus.
Background
“I studied fashion design for three months then I worked as assistant stylist. Mostly, I’m self-taught”.
Current projects
“The new film “Le Chenil” with Caroline de Maigret”.
Future projects
“I will launch a new collection in March and in spring there will be an exhibition, but I can’t say more right now”.
A special moment
“A few months ago I saw Caroline de Maigret walking the runway for Maison Martin Margiela and I was dumbstruck. She bears a striking resemblance to my mum, so I sent her an e-mail and a month later I received her reply where she invited me for a coffee. That’s how we started collaborating”.
Where does the inspiration come from?
“The starting point is still the south of France and my mother. I often reference my growing up in the 90’s”.
Favourite designers
“ Maison Martin Margiela , Jil Sander and Rei Kawakubo”.
Style icon
“ Isabelle Adjani”.
Your style
“Raw, ultra-simple”.
A special thank to…
“Marion, my best friend!”
Elegance is
“Simplicity”.
Favourite colours
“White”.
Favourite materials
“The simplest and coarsest: from wool to cotton”.
Never without...
“A small gold heart”.
Your biggest dream
“To never stop create and work as I do now”.
The first thought in the morning and before going to bed
“Check my e-mail!”.
Date of birth
16/01/1990.
Hometown
Bramejean, a small town in the south of France between Marseille and Avignon.
Live in
Paris.
Website
http://jacquemus.com