Paris fashion report exclusive: French fashion icons on summer must-haves

PARIS — We were able to interview two of our favorite French icons, Olympia Le-Tan and Ines de la Fressange, during Paris Fashion Week. From holiday reading to hipsters, here’s a sunny view.

Hooked on classics

When, almost a year ago, we first witnessed Olympia Le Tan’s women’s preppy ready-to-wear collection, we’d already fallen in love with her stylish book clutches. Emblazoned with titles of classics like Jane Eyre, Catcher in the Rye, Dr. Zhivago and Mandragola (by Machiavelli), the bags are the perfect accompaniment to add panache to a formal dress or dress down a pair of sturdy jeans. Our favorites include the beige and blue Moby-Dick, the pretty floral-lined Madame Bovary, and the perfect title for everyday reading, in purple: The Great Gatsby. But the bag we most covet doesn’t have words on it: it’s a snazzy alligator to take along on travels. We caught up with London-born, Paris-bred Le-Tan at her spring/summer 2013 collection — a presentation replete with reinterpreted ‘50s fashions and songs, and attended by her who’s who of friends in the Paris social circuit.

YSTYLE: What’s your favorite holiday destination?

OLYMPIA LE-TAN: The Greek islands.

What’s on your reading list?

All the books I bought to make my last collection that I haven’t had time to read yet. They are mainly jazz books.

What inspired the spring/summer 2013 collection?

Black music, jazz, blues and soul, and girl bands from the ‘60s.

Hipsters’ hope

What does Ines de la Fressange, Parisian style icon, think is the chic-est accessory for men? “What I like as an item are socks, preferably long, and in cashmere,” she said. “Socks for men are the best — they never do the same kind for women — so I always buy them for myself.” We also asked de la Fressange what she thinks of “hipsters,” those trendy young things who are found in every urban corner in the world. “Hipsters? Hip hip hip hurrah! I always love when there is a fashion (statement). It means that one wants to be part of a group and get inspired, and take care of his or her look. It’s all about désir — desire for a nice style of life while choosing special things,” said de la Fressange. “Yes, hip-hope!”