All that extreme reading and writing about style, last year, left me feeling a bit 'fashioned out'. Then along came the fabulous Loulou de la Falaise monograph by Ariel de Ravenel and Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni. Published by Rizzoli, it's a beautiful coffee table book filled with over 400 wonderful photographs of the Yves Saint Laurent accessories designer and muse, along with details of her life and style, and lots of lovely quotes from famous friends.
'Loulou's accessories were the defining exclamation mark on an Yves Saint Laurent look.'
- Hamish Bowles.
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| Loulou de la Falaise with Yves Saint Laurent & Betty Catroux |
Before moving to Paris where she met Yves Saint Laurent, Loulou de la Falaise lived in London and New York, assisted Helmut Newton, worked with Halston and modelled for Vogue. It's quite obvious that the Anglo-French aristo (her mother was the English model Maxime Birley and her father, Alain de la Falaise, a French count) was a whirlwind of energy, character and creativity:
'She sparkled like no one I'd ever seen - it was a kind of charge that went through her and radiated out.'
- Joan Juliet Buck
If you're ever wondering what to do with accessories, then, this is the place to go for inspiration. Loulou de la Falaise instinctively knew what went with what and realised the power of a statement necklace.
As much as I love the maximalist, bohemian approach with all its baubles and beads, some of my favourite outfits are the simpler, less-is-more styles:
'Loulou had amazing creativity and it's wonderful that she lives on in so many amazing photos.'
- Diane Von Furstenberg
I'd wear this last outfit, right now. What about you? How are you wearing your accessories at the moment?
Damn those French and their fabulous style.... the whole story is quite fascinating, such a colourful family ..... I had no idea about the Birley conection and the she was born in England!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, my sweet and thank you soooooooooooooo much for thinking of me
ReplyDeleteAaaah there's that elusive bright blue shirt pic you were searching for last year!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! She was fantastic and those photos are stunning. My accessories all work the hardest for me in recent years and on my shopping list is a bold piece of jewellery - but I can see I need to go even bigger! I also want to go back to the originals for inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThat blue shirt pic made my day. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLove her style. I am not that courageous with my accessories.
ReplyDeleteThough I have toned it down a bunch...i still love her accessories and how bold and perfect they are! The red sweater with the gold cuffs is so much fun!
ReplyDeleteShe was so fabulous - love that pic of her with YSL, so dashing!
ReplyDeleteWild thing...You make my heart sing...
ReplyDeleteChic down to the bone.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful style! I've pinned most of these pictures. I love statement pieces,but one at a time please. I will make an exception for the gold cuffs on the red sweater. Love that look! You've piqued my interest and I must find that book.
ReplyDeleteBack in the 70's I was fascinated by her and tried to copy her style, loved that OTT bohemian thing. Today, yes, I'd wear that last outfit in a heartbeat. Putting this book on my wish list!
ReplyDelete.......now that 's what you call statement earrings; inspirational!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU FOR SOMETHING SO INSPIRATIONAL ! I TOO WAS GETTING DESIGN / FASHION BURN OUT
ReplyDeleteLove the all the cuffs. I m 6 ft 2 and many jackets just aren t quite long enough in the arm , even ones from long tall sally. To increase my options ( as I dislike most of what LTS do) I often do one turn up of the cuff and then load up with bangles and cuffs to bridge the gap.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful book?! The photos are quite sumptuous and v inspirational. I am moving into bold costume jewellery and loving it, after a lifetime of only wearing antique I now love modern/vintage statement necklaces, bigger earrings and several bangles at once...but not all at the same time and only on the simplest of outfits!
ReplyDeleteI love the statement necklace pic and yes, I am obsessed with the last outfit!
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