Honestly, if you’ve ever Googled "how to look French," you’ve seen her face. Inès de la Fressange is basically the human equivalent of a crisp white shirt and a pair of Roger Vivier flats. She’s the woman who famously walked for Chanel, fell out with Karl Lagerfeld, and then—against all odds—became more relevant as a sixty-something mogul than she ever was as a twenty-something runway star.
But here is the thing.
Most people think her "Parisian Chic" vibe is about owning a specific trench coat or wearing a certain shade of red lipstick. That’s a total misconception. By 2026, the fashion world has shifted toward "quiet luxury," and while everyone else is trying to buy their way into looking rich, Inès has been preaching the gospel of looking relaxed for decades.
The Chanel Drama and the Statue That Changed Everything
In the 1980s, Inès was the first model to sign an exclusive contract with a luxury house. That house was Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld saw her as the literal reincarnation of Coco Chanel. They were inseparable. They traveled on the Concorde together. She was his eyes and ears.
Then, she did something "too French" for Karl’s liking.
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In 1989, she agreed to let her likeness be used for the bust of Marianne, the national symbol of the French Republic. You’d think a designer would be proud of his muse becoming the face of a nation, right? Not Karl. He famously snapped that he didn't want to "dress a statue" and that Marianne was the embodiment of "everything that is boring, bourgeois, and provincial."
He fired her. Just like that.
It was a scandal that rocked the industry. But Inès didn’t disappear. She didn't go off and pout in a villa in the South of France. Instead, she started her own brand. She proved that she wasn't just a face; she was a business.
Losing and Reclaiming a Name
Life isn’t always a straight line to success. After launching her brand, Inès de la Fressange Paris, she actually lost the right to use her own name in a messy legal battle with investors. Imagine not being allowed to put your name on a shirt you designed. It took years of legal maneuvering and a massive brand relaunch in 2013 to get back to the top.
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Today, she’s the creative director of her namesake house, but she also balances a heavy-hitter role as an ambassador for Roger Vivier. Plus, her Uniqlo collaborations have survived over a decade because they actually work. They aren't "fast fashion" in the cheap sense; they’re the "Inès starter pack" for people who can't spend 500 Euros on a blazer.
What People Get Wrong About Her Style
You see the photos of her at the Jacquemus Spring/Summer 2026 show at Versailles and think, "Okay, she’s just tall and aristocratic."
Sure, having a Marquis for a father and a Lazard banking heiress for a grandmother helps. But her actual style philosophy is surprisingly accessible. People think Parisian style is a set of rules. Inès thinks it’s about breaking them.
- The "Off" Factor: She often says that if an outfit is too perfect, it’s boring. If you’re wearing a beautiful silk dress, wear it with beat-up sneakers.
- The Price Mix: She’s famous for mixing high-end couture with items she found at a hardware store or a supermarket.
- Age is a Myth: In her late 60s, she still wears navy sweaters and cigarette jeans. She doesn't "dress for her age." She dresses for her mood.
Why She’s Trending in 2026
We are currently seeing a massive backlash against "algorithmic fashion." You know the look—the perfectly polished, filtered, "Instagram face" style that feels like it was designed by a computer.
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Inès represents the opposite. She represents "the mistake."
Her 2026 collections have leaned heavily into what she calls "clashing elegance." We're talking tiger prints (which are huge this year) paired with very traditional French tailoring. She’s showing us that you can be a grandmother and still look cooler than the 20-year-old influencers at Paris Fashion Week because you aren't trying so hard.
Practical Steps to Channel the Inès Energy
If you want to actually use her logic in your own life, don't go buy a beret. Please. Most Parisians haven't worn a beret since 1954 unless they were doing it ironically.
Instead, try these three things:
- Invest in "The Navy Blazer": It is her absolute staple. It works over a hoodie, over a dress, or with jeans. It’s the ultimate "I’ve got my life together" garment.
- The Shoe Swap: If you usually wear heels to feel "dressed up," try a pair of very pointed flats or loafers. Inès is almost six feet tall; she learned early on that flat shoes carry a specific kind of power. They say, "I can walk faster than you, and I’m more comfortable doing it."
- Stop Boring Yourself: Look in the mirror. If you look "nice," you’ve failed. Add something that doesn't belong—a bright scarf, a chunky watch, or messy hair.
Inès de la Fressange didn't stay relevant for fifty years by being the prettiest girl in the room. She stayed relevant by being the most interested person in the room. Whether she’s writing her weekly newsletter or consulting for Schiaparelli, she’s always looking for the "je ne sais quoi"—that little something extra that can't be bought, only felt.
Go through your closet today and find the one piece you think is "too much" or "doesn't fit." Wear it with your most basic jeans. That’s the Inès way. It’s not about being a statue; it’s about being a person who is actually living in her clothes.