So Isabel Marant is to be the next H&M collaboration and unless you were on a desert Island yesterday (or don’t use the internet) you will have heard the whole world (well fashion people anyway) waxing lyrical about how fabulous French Designer is.
H&M will start selling the mens and womenswear clothing and accessories collection in 250 stores and online on Nov the 14th.
Marant says “I aim at creating something real, that women want to wear in their everyday lives, with a certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian. You dress up, but do not pay too much attention and still look sexy. The collection is infused with this kind of easiness and attitude.”
This is not an obvious collaboration, not least because Marant has been very vocal in the past about her dislike of High Street “versions” of her collection, with her wedge trainer being possibly the most copied style ever.
In an recent interview with the Telegraph she talked about being “her own muse” and said her style staples are ‘a pair of tight jeans, a pair of flat shoes and something that is a bit like a sweatshirt, a jumper or T-shirt. A good jacket, a good coat. I’m quite androgonystic. I’m very feminine but I always need to break it with something very masculine.’
There is no denying she always looks great in that way only French women do, but I’m not so sure her clothes work on us Brits. For me, her simple boho style is in danger of looking either ever so slightly dull or a little bit contrived. And personally, if I am going to spend a lot of money on something – and her clothes are a lot of money – I would prefer not to be able to buy very similar versions from Zara or ASOS and the like.
Maybe I’m just not a cowboy shirt/ankle boot kind of woman, or perhaps I am simply just too old (although that doesn’t usually stop me!) but this is one collaboration I won’t be queuing up for.
There is no doubt it will be a very popular and despite Marant’s past criticism of high street knock offs, her willingness to team up with H & M shows that perhaps designers are deciding that collaboration is better than opposition and at the end of the day hopefully the customer will at least get well designed, good quality garments at a more reasonable price.
November? Seriously? why such an early announcement? That is going to be an unbearable wait, i wanna buy something NOW!!!
I’m with you Jane, I get her aesthetic but I don’t really have that emotional engagement with her clothes. I certainly don’t own any. I’m still REALLY impressed with how my Marni/H&M clothes are lasting, the quality on them is amazing considering what the price was and I’ve worn them to death. Can we have Dries Van Noten next please, H&M? A
I’m with you Jane – I don’t get the love… “that certain carelessness, which I think is very Parisian” – Pah!
M
I don’t own any Isabel Marant but I do quite like her tomboyish aesthetic. The simple mannish jackets and sweatshirts, rather than the cowboy shirts and ugly hidden wedge hi-tops.
What strikes me is that she is so ‘French cool’ and that’s what people want to buy when they buy her clothes. But, as we all know, just buying a cool label won’t make you cool. Also, I think it’s frankly hypocritical of a designer who’s been so vocal about knock-offs to then collaborate with H&M – cake and eat it, anyone? If I want the mannish stuff (and I love me a good jacket), I’d go Margaret Howell any day.