IRO (Paris) Silk Pants

Oh-so Roitfeldesque (can’t you totally see the editors at French Vogue wearing these with a contoured tank and killer metallic heels?), these elegantly airy silk pants by slick French label Iro are the perfect complement to give a chic twist to your ensembles.
Or pair with a sharp jacket and glossy pumps for the freshest way to work office elegance.


IRO
Iro was created in 2004 by Laurent and Arik Bitton. The brothers come from the music industry and moved in a hip alternate universe -- trip hop, New York lounge and Tokyo private parties make up their daily world. Being at the forefront of all kinds of trends gave them the idea to create clothes for the girls in their cosmopolitan circle.
Even though its name was taken from the Japanese word for ‘colour’, you won't find a lot of colourful things with Iro -- grey, black, white and other toned-down shades dominate the palette. And the music-influenced rocker edge is only one aspect of the brand; the focus also lies in incorporating the Bitton brothers’ love of vintage and in using quality materials. The overall outcome is a modern, flirtatious spin on the nonchalance of Parisian street style and attitude.
No wonder that the line is rapidly amassing a cult following both in Europe and Tinseltown. As if that accolade wasn’t enough, Iro recently got the ultimate seal of approval via a personal email order placed by none other than Kate Moss herself (only just last week voted ‘Best-dressed Woman of the Decade’ by US Vogue).

New from Paris - LOVEMILLA

With a name like “Lovemilla” and a slogan that states “In Love We Trust”, obviously all the ingredients are there for us to fall in love with this exquisite new brand, created by the talented Parisian designer Amelie Gillier just two years ago.
Leaving behind the Artistic Director seat of Zadig et Voltaire gave Gillier the opportunity to explore what she wanted to do most: to create a more feminine and sophisticated line that would reflect her intimate style and involvement. She hasn’t totally abandoned the principles that made Zadig et Voltaire amazing, but she did notch up the touch of romance whilst toning down the ‘rock’ attitude. Gillier also confessed that she often finds inspiration from things of the past, readjusting vintage style to life today.
Seductive without being trashy and understated without being boring, these precious 70s-influenced pieces beautifully communicate the DNA of Lovemilla.


AMELIE GILLIER
Amelie Gillier had been married to Thierry Gillier for twenty years, during which she helped her husband build up Zadig et Voltaire, the brand he had set up in the 80s. Following their separation, Gillier left the company and embarked on a new adventure. She named her label “Lovemilla” because she wanted to keep her daughter Manon Milla in the loop of this journey.
Carried by an extraordinary intuition, Gillier’s creations for Lovemilla is essentially an ode to love and femininity, besides also being a mirror into the core of her universe: vintage, chic and only an itsy bitsy teensy weensy rock :-)

PAUL & JOE SISTER "Sainmalo" Dress

Simple, classic, and cheerful, the Sainmalo* dress from Paul & Joe Sister -- the offspring of Parisian designer Sophie Albou's coveted Paul & Joe line -- is ideal for folding up in your vacation suitcase, and will also dress up well under a jacket for smarter work dos.
(Notes: *The dress is likely named after Saint Malo, a port city and the most visited place in the historical province of Brittany, northwestern of France, where the marinière or Breton stripe originated. More below.)


If there is one trend that’s coming up huge, it must surely be the nautical influence.
Sailor stripes always tend to show up in Spring-Summer styles, you may say. However, this year the focus is on the pattern first popularised by Coco Chanel, also known as the marinière or Breton stripe. (It all kind of started when the Audrey Tatou starrer "Coco Avant Chanel" debuted last year.)
"la marinière" was first brought to the fashion world by Coco Chanel back in the 20s after she noticed French fishermen's striped attire.
Since then, gamine fashion icon Audrey Hepburn and sex kitten Bridget Bardot have shown how the look can be elegant, modern and sexy, whatever the era.


There's simply no escaping stripes this season. They're popping up ALL OVER in Celebville, too, and we have the evidence :-)

IRO Bareketh Sheer Blouse

Iro (France)
Already design stars hotly tipped by fashion editors in their native France, Laurent & Arik Bitton gained their fashion skills from running the family business. Whilst originally finding creative outlet in the music industry, the brothers eventually felt intrigued enough -- purportedly by the assertive style of the women in their circle of friends -- to launch a clothing collection. It is said that the brothers see their line as a vivid expression of lifestyles from around the globe (as documented on the brand's website) that supply the inspiration for the cool & confident look of these women.
Being a bit of a Japanophile, the brothers named their label Iro (pronounced "E-ro"), the Japanese word for "colour".
Iro soon became known for its alchemical blend of Japanese kawaii-(cute)ness with Parisian romanticism & metropolitan energy. Above all, the brand stood out for its vintage appeal, its designs characterised by past influences & a retro feel. The airy & lightweight Bareketh blouse with pretty scalloped edges, for example, is like a modern reincarnation of a dainty antique handkerchief. So sweet & rare, c’est très charmant!
(Comes with snap closure along the sides, allowing you to adjust how much skin you want to show.)
Earlier this year, Iro collaborated with students of the famed fashion school Studio Berçot to lend support to the SOS Children's Villages orphan charity. One more reason Iro is our hero!

Dresses... MANOUSH + ZADIG et VOLTAIRE

Summer is the season of the dress & we're here to help you find the piece that will work hard for you all season long -- whatever the occasion!
From Bohemian-inspired frocks that will carry you from beach to a dinner date, to the essential slinky dresses that will see you through countless Summer parties & weddings, we've got all the trends covered. See two of our favourites from French designers this week:-

1. Manoush, which means 'gypsy' in French slang, has proved more than a flash-in-the-pan leftover from the boho craze of the last couple of years. Founder-designer Frederique Trou-Roy's creations -- like this cute & fun silk rainbow dress -- are filled with kooky, folkrolic details, making them a hearty rendering of the inspirations gathered from her frequent travels to North Africa.

2. Stylish French girls swear by Zadig & Voltaire & we urge you to experience the wonders of the sexy strass-embellished Ruban Deluxe Dress.

Isabel Marant Printed Top & Dress

Slightly slouchy, kinda edgy, a whole lot wearable, with great prints that hit just the right note -- those are the unmissable touches of Isabel Marant, one of the hottest yet still somewhat low-profile independent designers of the last 15 years.
A daughter of German designer Christa Fiedler, French-born Marant studied design at Studio Bercot in Paris before creating her own jewellery line. She then went on to work with various parties including Yorke & Cole, Marc Ascoli, Michel Klein, Chloe, Yohji Yamamoto, Martine Sitbon, & even her mother. Finally striking out on her own in 1994, Marant's debut collection on the Paris runway a year later won notice at once. Her first order came from Japan, & for some time she remained more known abroad than at home.
Today though, you'd be hard pressed to find a stylish young Parisian or Tinseltown best-dresser who doesn't own at least a few Isabel Marant pieces in her wardrobe. Marant's Spring '08 presentation was also one of the only 10 or so shows that Kanye West checked out as research for his own upcoming line.
This print series by Marant draws the same kind of must-have impulse as the designs of top-name labels, but at considerably less cost & exposure. (Yes, that's Isla Fisher, looking awesome in her casual-chic Isabel Marant top, playing with baby Borat.)