Around the world in one season
ISABEL MARANT’s woman has been globe-trotting for FW19 – and the nomadic lifestyle never looked so stylish
Isabel Marant is the undisputed queen of luxe bohemia. The Parisian designer has built a three-decade long career, a much sought-after label and a doggedly loyal international following of style-savvy women thanks to her flair for blending the kind of off-duty, French insouciance with a low-key California cool that most of us never stop aspiring to. The result is simply irresistible: clothes that are at-once chic, wearable and utterly desirable, not to mention filled with unbridled joy. And her FW19 collection is no exception.
Marant has riffed on the theme of nomads this season, imagining a fiercely independent, bold and brave woman who’s traveled around the globe and collected a wealth of interesting stories and a love of different cultures as she goes, impeccably dressed every step of the way. In the show notes, Marant name-checked iconic photographer Marie-Laure de Decker, who spent the early part of her career photographing political upheaval in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, and who has long been a source of inspiration for the designer.
The reason that Marant’s coterie of fans (which include the likes of Chrissy Teigen, Margot Robbie, Lily Aldridge and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley) return to her pieces again and again is that she knows just how to hit the sweet spot between day-to-day practicality and seriously special. Loyalists of the label also know that there are certain signatures and codes that weave through and elevate every Isabel Marant collection – a hint of military detail, a mix of masculine and feminine, oversized shoulders that nod to the ’80s – and each one makes an appearance in the new offering.
A khaki wool work shirt – first seen tucked into carrot-shaped pleated pants and stalking down the runway on Gigi Hadid – could easily shape up to be one of the hardest-working pieces in your wardrobe over the coming months. And then there’s the more ladylike, off-white sarong-wrap skirt, at its best worn leather on leather with a co-ordinating long-sleeved top, but that would make just as much of an impact worn with a basic tee, a white shirt or a favorite knit.
The Isabel Marant woman has never been afraid of showing off her legs, either – the designer has a knack for balancing out high hemlines with modest necklines and puffed sleeves to conjure the perfect mini dress – and this season’s crop of minis are set to help you make an impact as you hit party season. The standout of the season? A high-impact black and silver affair, all heavy embellishment, plunging necklines and metallic ruffles, is the statement-maker you need in your wardrobe right now.