“I want to make clothes that can be kept for a lifetime.” Agnès b.
There have been many conversations in the blogosphere of late about wardrobe “essentials”. The word essential means “a thing that is absolutely necessary”. In fashion it usually means timeless pieces that you can’t live without. It means those pieces that you can wear every day, any hour, at any age and that travel well with you through a busy life. If you invest well they can usually be kept for a lifetime. When one looks at the multiple lists of what are considered “essential” one cannot help make comparisons to what are considered to be the elements of French style: a pair of black pumps, men’s shoes, ballet flats, classic trench coat, waist length jacket in wool or leather, white shirts, simple but expensive white T, a striped T, black suit, black pencil skirt, cashmere sweater, little black dress, black tailored pants, an expensive bag and finally really great sunglasses. In the photos below you can see my look incorporates several of these elements: white shirt, sunglasses, waist length jacket in black wool, black blazer, black wool trousers, men’s shoes and of course sunglasses. When I think “essential” and I think “French” I also think agnès b.
The personal style of Agnès b. or Agnes Troublé Bourgeois (her first husband the source of the b.) caught the attention of an Elle editor at a Paris flea market when she was 20 years old, a mother with twin boys who had divorced after one year of marriage. She began her career as a junior editor and stylist for the magazine. After two years she decided she would rather design clothes than style them and worked freelancing as a designer. She cobbled together her own income as her parents were not particularly happy about her divorce nor her bringing her sons to student protests in the late 60’s. She calls herself a “nice” rebel and that, along with her minimalist aesthetic, makes her an “essential” designer for Accidental Icon. I wear her jacket below along with my favorite Jil Sander shoes and Oak shirt.
In the early seventies Agnès b. started her own label and encouraged by her second husband Jean-Rene de Fleurieu, opened her first shop in Les Halles in a former butcher shop in 1975. There were white walls that everyone could write on, live birds flying around with nests made from threads of agnès b. clothes and new clothes hanging on lines not yet dry after dying. She opened her first shop in New York City in Soho in 1980. Her company is family owned and privately operated and includes 282 stores worldwide including 3 in NYC. She is another designer who is politically and ethically responsible. She has never advertised as she believes it is “manipulative” yet she has become enormously successful without it. The photo below is her newest store, “Galerie Boutique” at 50 Howard Street. The store is both an art gallery and a boutique that sells the designer’s collections for men and women.
The new space is the manifestation of Agnès b. and her constant “becoming”. Moving beyond “essentials” and returning to the Accidental Icon’s favorite topic of discussion, reinvention, a future post will explore the designer’s currently diverse activities including being a filmmaker, a grandmother and a “catalyst” for young talent. I leave you with another quote from the designer.
When I feel confident in my clothes, I am better able to pay attention to people around me.
Thanks for your comment, me to!
Thank you for sharing this history on Agnes B. I’m a new follower of yours and I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I’m quite infatuated with the b/w images. By doing so, it takes away from all that is around you and I’m able to focus on the meat of each post…your incredible style and your writings. Well done and thank you.
Thanks so much! I wanted something that was not cluttered but clean and minimal, so glad you appreciate that
Thanks for your comment, me to!
Glad to find your blog ! I’m just turning 60 and when I hit the pause my life became all about clothes. I like Demuelmiester too and when I discovered her a few years ago after getting into Patti Smith’s music, well like you I read as many interviews and articles I could find. Just can’t afford her clothes!! Anyhow. Glad Arie highlighted you on his blog.
When you cut your hair what is the name of the salon?
Thanks
Well perhaps you will make a visit to New York!
Thanks! You know consignment stores are a great way to get some affordable items. So glad you like the blog. The salon is Tokuyama.
Glad to find your blog ! I’m just turning 60 and when I hit the pause my life became all about clothes. I like Demuelmiester too and when I discovered her a few years ago after getting into Patti Smith’s music, well like you I read as many interviews and articles I could find. Just can’t afford her clothes!! Anyhow. Glad Arie highlighted you on his blog.
When you cut your hair what is the name of the salon?
Thanks
Thanks! You know consignment stores are a great way to get some affordable items. So glad you like the blog. The salon is Tokuyama.
I love agnes b. designs, but have never owned any, due only to lack of opportunity. There used to be a shop in LA, but it closed a few years ago. Very sharp outfit!
Well perhaps you will make a visit to New York!
I have always loved Agnes b. I remember saving up my (in those days French francs) and going to visit the store in Les Halles every time I went to Paris. I still have an Agnes black leather jacket from 1985.
I would love to see that jacket. Will you do a post on it?
I have always loved Agnes b. I remember saving up my (in those days French francs) and going to visit the store in Les Halles every time I went to Paris. I still have an Agnes black leather jacket from 1985.
I would love to see that jacket. Will you do a post on it?
I fondly remember the agnes b. store in Les Halles. I spent many a hard earned franc there. Spent a bit of time in the Soho store as well. Alas I live in the hinterlands of Southern California and my little agnes b. black knit snap front cardigan finally bit the dust.
They still make those little cardigans and the same white t’s. How lucky you went to her store!
I fondly remember the agnes b. store in Les Halles. I spent many a hard earned franc there. Spent a bit of time in the Soho store as well. Alas I live in the hinterlands of Southern California and my little agnes b. black knit snap front cardigan finally bit the dust.
I fondly remember the agnes b. store in Les Halles. I spent many a hard earned franc there. Spent a bit of time in the Soho store as well. Alas I live in the hinterlands of Southern California and my little agnes b. black knit snap front cardigan finally bit the dust.
They still make those little cardigans and the same white t’s. How lucky you went to her store!
I look forward to visiting the Agnes b. store the next time that I’m in NYC. How could I not, after your interesting portrayal of her life and how stunning you look in her jacket.
Gorgeous photos with captivating backgrounds.
Thank you. Finding interesting places to shoot is making us see our old city in new ways.
I look forward to visiting the Agnes b. store the next time that I’m in NYC. How could I not, after your interesting portrayal of her life and how stunning you look in her jacket.
Gorgeous photos with captivating backgrounds.
Thank you. Finding interesting places to shoot is making us see our old city in new ways.
I had forgotten Agnes b., the store here in Australia where I used to admire her
garments no longer exists. I will have to research further.
Always admire your sense of style and your always interesting photos with their fascinating locations.
I had forgotten Agnes b., the store here in Australia where I used to admire her
garments no longer exists. I will have to research further.
Always admire your sense of style and your always interesting photos with their fascinating locations.
You are amazing!!!!!!!
Bravo to Pheobe Philo for featuring Joan Didion. It’s about time that the style world realize that they are missing a huge market by not showing their clothes on more mature women. Style is not something you just say good bye to at a certain age. You have such great style and taste in clothes! Look forward to your posts. Love Agnes b.
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com
Bravo to Pheobe Philo for featuring Joan Didion. It’s about time that the style world realize that they are missing a huge market by not showing their clothes on more mature women. Style is not something you just say good bye to at a certain age. You have such great style and taste in clothes! Look forward to your posts. Love Agnes b.
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com