Leave it to Uniqlo to have us feeling nostalgic for colder days just as we kick off the spring season. While we’re packing away our down jackets and heavy sweaters, the retail giant is announcing its upcoming collaboration with fashion icon Inès de la Fressange.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Uniqlo has collaborated with the chic French icon; the fall/winter 2017 capsule collection will mark the eighth time that Fressange has worked with the brand on Parisian-inspired essentials for the brand’s LifeWear division. However, it does mark the launch of an eagerly anticipated Inès de la Fressange-inspired men’s collection… meaning stylish couples can now effortlessly coordinate their Parisian chic #OOTD posts.
Fressange ranks high on the list of many fashion lovers and it's clear that the 59-year-old has struck a chord with Uniqlo’s customers. Fressange first collaborated with Uniqlo on the release of a spring/summer 2014 collection of basics, and has remained a constant store presence in the seasons that have followed.
But, why is everyone so enamored with her and why the excitement over a men’s capsule collection? The answer: Fressange, a former muse to Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel designs throughout the '80s, collaborator with luxury brand Roger Vivier and, yes, a French aristocrat, simply embodies everything about that sought-after, effortless French style. She is the face of French fashion, after selling more than a million copies of Parisian Chic, her guide to Gallic dressing. She also defines “je ne sais quoi” while mirroring the versatility that Uniqlo is known for.
"Ines' own lifestyle and approach to fashion closely mirrors Uniqlo's LifeWear," according to Uniqlo's design director, Naoki Takizawa, who works closely with the moxie of French chic on designing the line each season. It’s a dream partnership for Takizawa, who seems to combine Fressange’s infamous Parisian style with Japanese technical know-how with ease.
Uniqlo’s past Fressange-inspired capsule collections of shirts, sports jackets and knits for women have traditionally been inspired by menswear silhouettes. This made for a smooth transition when it finally came time to design a collection of urban essentials for men. As with the women’s range, the fall/winter 2017 men’s collection is a clean, contemporary line filled with stylish stand-up collar coats, tweed jackets and cashmere knits.
As with Uniqlo’s previous Fressange-inspired women’s capsule collection, the French icon’s penchant for timeless, classic looks proves to be a perfect match for Uniqlo’s simple aesthetic.
The long-anticipated Ines de la Fressange men’s collection and the return of the Ines de la Fressange women’s collection for fall/winter 2017 will be available at Uniqlo stores in Canada and around the world in September.
