Ines de la Fressenge: How to dress French

The French know fashion, this is hard to deny. And there are few Frencher, or chicer than Inès de la Fressange. The ex-model and Chanel muse is known for her consistently polished yet effortless dress sense. Putting her fashion know-how to good use, Ms Fressange has penned Parisian Chic: A Style Guide. Apart from suggesting we shop in the men's department, age gracefully, and avoid trends like the devil, Inès has some gems of fashion wisdom to share:

• "Better a genuine straw bag than a fake luxury label. Counterfeit is counterfashion!"
• "Jeans are never too risky; they're a little like salt — they go with everything!"
• "The little black dress is not simply an item of clothing, it's a concept. It's abstract, it's universal — which means there's one that's perfect for everyone."
• "Never, ever buckle the belt properly like a good little girl. Tie it in front or behind with the buckle hanging loose. Unobtrusive fashion statements like this...are very, very Parisian."
• "Push back or roll up the sleeves — the ultimate 'easy chic' statement. Even better when the lining's a different colour."
• as seen on fabsugar
  

Ines de la Fressange: putting the Paris back in L'Oreal

In recent years, models in their thirties and forties have been an increasingly common sight on billboards and catwalks. But at 53, Ines de la Fressange stands out even among this older bunch. The former Chanel model, who began her career in 1975, is joining L'Oreal's as the company's new "Paris Ambassadress".

An icon in her native France, de la Fressange has been a muse for both Karl Lagerfeld and Thierry Mugler, and in 1989 her likeness was used for a bust of Marianne, a French national symbol. More recently, she has turned her hand to design, creating her own label and helping to relaunch French footwear brand Roger Vivier.

As a spokesmodel for L'Oreal, she joins a diverse, but highly selective, group which includes Milla Jovovich, Beyonce Knowles, Diane Keaton and Eva Longoria.

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Boundless beauties

Ines de la Fressange, 53, on the catwalk for Jean Paul Gaultier in 2009.

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Last year the ultimate Parisienne wrote a short book about how to embody French style; L'Oreal's Global Brand President, Cyril Chapuy says that he is "delighted that she is bringing that irresistible 'je ne sais quoi' to the brand." No wonder: last year de la Fressange insisted that her return to the Chanel catwalk was a one-off. "This is not my job anymore," she told reporters.

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