Before there was a lifestyle brand there was Agnes B, the inventor of the resort wear and the woman who brought casual French style to the world. Without Agnes B, there would be no blue and white striped sailor shirt, the one made famous by Picasso. She took this shirt and made it new again by pairing it with long ruffled skirts, slacks, leather minis and shorts. The world fell in love with this young French style that was approachable for everyone in the 1970s and if you were a student in Paris like I was, this was where you wanted to shop. It's still where I want to shop because I still love the sensibility of her clothes.
Spring 2015 will be a celebration of all things Agnes B: Spring dresses and sporty separates, resort pieces and her beloved Marais "rocker chic" pieces. The opening of the show celebrated the 18th century with an army of elegant revolutionaries and a bride and groom. This was her ode to the glorious revolution and these pieces were all done in linen and denim fabrics with brass buttons complete with black straw tricorn hats. The little "Revolution" jacket will be a popular piece you can mix with jeans, skirts, leggings or a floral printed dress. The charming selection of resort dresses inspired by 1950s French films were mixed with today's Marais street style. Jackets, graphic prints, hoodies and all sorts of pants mixed up for her younger clientele. Suit ensembles in bright prints were a new staple for the resort traveler. Her devoted fans were charmed again by the classics she made famous and also by the new ways to wear them. Finally, the show was complete when a girl and her beloved "chien" wearing a delightful spring outfit and a bright picture hat walked in. Her shoulders were draped with a shawl made from a traditional French paisley pattern that was a riot of warm colors from the Provence: burnt orange, red, green, golden yellow and azure blue. This was the piece that set the tone for her vision of the Springtime 2015: the warm days, sunny colors, and the fresh smell of lavenderin the air she invites you to enjoy. The heart of her style lies in her connection to Nature and her life in LE MARAIS that is rich with artistic street and urban life. This is what makes her the genius of lifestyle design that is much more than just one piece, but the entire collection that beckons you. She invites you to join her on a fine afternoon at a cafe in Paris or at a table in her own garden in a quiet small town in the Provence.
