Parisian fashion was inspiring to me when I was a teenager in Canada, and later in my adult life, after I moved to London, I became a London convert. I think overall, the average Parisian has better style than the average Londoner. However, I think London’s culture allows for more expression and unconventionality in daily dress, so when a Londoner nails an outfit, it is a VISION.
For argument’s sake, when I speak of French designers I will reference designers who show at and associate with Paris Fashion Week. At the moment, I am loving Nicolas di Felice (who is from French-speaking Belgium) at Courrèges. Absolute kink elegance, and I want to buy so many of his pieces. Historically I love Yves Saint Laurent and his exploration of artistic themes in each collection, and the sophisticated structure of Cristobal Balenciaga’s (Spanish) mid 20th century couture designs. He was an inspiration in regards to the curved neckline of my Zia Bustier.
British/London Fashion Week designers that I love - right now I am so impressed by Nensi Dojoka (Albanian) and Dilara Findikoglu (Turkish). They have managed to make distinct, recognizable design codes without any logos. Dilara also manufactures with one of my suppliers, and I’ve witnessed her pieces being made. The attention to detail in her work is mind-blowing.
I also am a massive fan of Christopher Kane (Scottish) - the closure of his label is pure injustice - and J.W. Anderson’s (Northern Irish) celebration of craft at Loewe.