Art of Style

Get dressed with Anine Bing

Designer Anine Bing is changing the way women dress with her patented brand of LA-cool meets Scandi-minimalism. These are the fashion mantras she swears by…

Fashion
STYLE UNIFORM
Denim plays a huge part in Bing’s wardrobe – her quest to find the perfect pair of jeans is what led to her start her own label

Find what works for you

“My style is very effortless, kind of Scandinavian simplicity mixed with a dash of rock’n’roll – definitely a result of living in LA for 15 years. When I first arrived here, I was struck by how individual everyone was; it’s a city where people can be and dress however they want. I did a lot of experimenting when I was a teenager: I had red-henna hair and used to wear my brother’s punk clothes. It’s all part of the journey. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I really discovered who I was and my own style. As a kid, I loved fashion but we didn’t have a lot of money, so if I wanted something I had to make it myself. I started my line because, even though I am a denim addict and had 100 pairs of jeans, I just couldn’t find the perfect cut. Years later, all my designs still come from a very personal place.”

Have a regular closet cleanse

“I don’t save a lot of things; I am one of those people who loves a good clear out and I go through my closet every month, but the one thing I have held onto is the first leather jacket I ever designed. I also have an emerald ring belonging to my grandmother that’s extremely special to me. She was such an incredible woman – she moved from Brazil to Denmark aged 20 and always had the most amazing style; she’s a constant source of inspiration. I love how jewelry can evoke certain memories, like my engagement ring or a gift from my mom. I love layering all those different pieces and carrying the memories with me. I don’t stow my jewelry pieces away for ‘special’ occasions; I wear and treasure them every day.”

Identify your fail-safes

“My closet is so organized – it’s full of simple, timeless pieces that just make me feel like the best version of myself. For me, that ‘perfect’ pair of jeans, a white tee, a crisp oversized white shirt, a blazer and a leather jacket are the essentials. Finding those pieces you can rely on just makes life so much easier. I also love wearing pretty, delicate underwear every day; whether you can see it or not, it makes you feel great. When it comes to nights out with friends, I just make little tweaks to my usual look. I’ll switch out boots for a pair of heels, add a little more makeup, or swap my biker jacket for a blazer, but I’m happy to stay in the same tee and jeans I’ve been wearing that day. I really think that’s how the modern woman lives, and dresses.”

CAPSULE CLOSET
The designer relies on a tightly curated rotation of rock’n’roll tees, shirts and jeans, which she dresses up or down with a biker or blazer jacket

Master a five-minute makeup routine

“When it comes to beauty, I’m kind of high and low maintenance. I don’t have time for regular treatments and I don’t use many products, but I do invest in the best; you just need to find those few products that really do it for you. Skincare-wise, I’m a huge fan of La Mer – it does the best serums and eye cream. I love a good foundation – my friend Kate Bosworth always has the most flawless skin so I recently started using the same Suqqu one she swears by – and the Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer is brilliant, I’ve been using it for almost 15 years. I always finish my look with cream blush, a little highlighter and mascara. It literally takes me five minutes to get ready in the morning. I always do my own makeup, even for photoshoots, and over the years I’ve learned what works best for me.”

24/7 STYLE
Bing uses blazers, heels and makeup to take her look from day to night

Don’t be a slave to trends

“Trends don’t really influence my designs. My favorite thing is creating classic pieces that will slot effortlessly into any woman’s existing wardrobe. Whether you’re a working woman or a mom, you simply don’t have hours every morning to put a look together. You need easy, elevated pieces that work well.”

The people featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown.