ALL OCCASIONS: What would a chic Parisian woman wear to divorce court? White jeans, a beige sweater, black blazer and penny loafers.
For bargain hunting during the sales period? A black T-shirt with a boiler suit worn as pants and the sleeves tied around the waist, plus skater shoes.
For taking a flight from Charles de Gaulle airport? A black men’s coat, black V-neck sweater, white T-shirt, gray track pants and slides.
These are among the dressing occasions — some familiar, some obscure — Inès de La Fressange tackles in her latest style guide. Compiled with fashion editor Sophie Gachet, it decodes her je ne sais quoi by showing how to combine basic items for having dinner with your ex, negotiating a raise — or having lunch with a favorite aunt who hasn’t read a fashion magazine since the Seventies. (Yes, that means bell-bottoms and a poet blouse.)
The 160-page softcover book by Flammarion, with photos by Benoit Peverelli, depicts models headless to make it easier for women to project themselves.
It includes a checklist of essential wardrobe items, and groups suggested outfits according to broad occasions such as business, vacations, evenings, family events and miscellaneous occasions such as museum hopping or “singing in the rain.”
De la Fressange rounds out the book with a section on fashion “errors.” Her list of don’t include long down coats that look like sleeping bags; counterfeit luxury bags; T-shirts with pictures of cats on them (sorry Choupette), and leggings for anyone over the age of 11.
Titled “Comment je m’habille aujourd’hui?” (“What should I wear today,” in English) is slated for release on Nov. 30 with a cover price of 25 euros.
An ambassador for French chic, de la Fressange revived her namesake brand and opened a Left Bank store last year that houses her branded products alongside an assortment of handpicked goods ranging from olive oil to bicycles.
The model, Roger Vivier brand ambassador and face of L’Oréal Paris also does a collection with Uniqlo.