Latest news with #A.P.C.
New York Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Jenna Lyons Knows How to Find Quality Clothing. Here's Her Staple Wardrobe.
'I wear the same goddamn thing every day,' Jenna Lyons recently told me over Zoom. And whether you're familiar with her from her stint on The Real Housewives of New York City or as the former president and executive creative director of you know that she's not being hyperbolic. Lyons is known for her consistently polished — yet delightfully playful — personal style. But if you dissect many of her outfits, you'll see that her wardrobe is built on a foundation of well-fitting basics. Her advice is to invest in the items you wear the most, rather than in outfits you'll wear only a handful of times. A helpful way to do this is to consider an item's cost per wear, she said. And this is how she reflects on the price of her most-worn pieces: 'If I went through the cost per wear of the things I wear all the time, you'd be shocked.' Following that advice, her closet is full of elevated versions of everyday essentials, like a basic white T-shirt or a trusty pair of jeans. But Lyons is also anything but a gatekeeper, and she told us what she likes, why it works for her, and where to get it yourself. Lyons knows exactly what she likes in a plain T-shirt, and the Boxier Trash Tee nails it. 'My entire drawer is stacked with them,' she said. And she has them in white, black, and cream (called 'scour' by the brand). This T-shirt is heavier than most, with longer sleeves, a boxy shape, and a slightly shorter but not quite cropped length. Lyons said she also likes the close-fitting neckline, which allows her necklace to sit just outside of the shirt. Falling somewhere between standard and cropped with a boxy cut, this tee is anything but trash (though it is made of 100% reclaimed-waste cotton, according to the website). 'I'm a bit religious about jeans,' Lyons told me, specifying that she doesn't like stretch jeans at all. And she said she 'really struggled during the skinny jean phase,' because she never liked the look or feel of that style. 'I really only wear rigid jeans,' she said. Lyons likes the raw selvedge denim from A.P.C., specifically the Standard Jeans style, but she warns if you're getting them new, they take some effort to break in. She does have a trick, however: 'If you put them in warm water, like get into the bathtub with hot water, and then you can put a little bit of softener or salt in there, it does help. Then you let them dry, and that really does kickstart them from being so hard.' These high-rise, straight-leg jeans are made with raw Japanese selvedge denim. They're chic and have a forever-in cut, but breaking them in requires some work. A.P.C. recommends going up one or two sizes for a more-comfortable fit. Lyons also loves vintage, non-stretch jeans from Levi's. She found some of her favorites through an online shop called Jean Genie Vintage Company. Noble Panacea / Photographer: Mei Tao From our conversation, I gathered that Lyons is no stranger to shopping in the men's section — or from menswear brands altogether. Another wear-anytime basic is a classic crewneck sweatshirt from Todd Snyder. It's made from a blend of 85% organic cotton with 15% mulberry silk, and it has a hint-of-interest small waffle pattern. Crewneck sweaters can be a bit boring, but this one has an eye-catching, tiny waffle pattern, and it's blended with mulberry silk. When it comes to sweaters, Lyons is also fond of cashmere, though she is particular about the yarn. In her opinion, Suzie Kondi makes 'the most amazing cashmere sweaters,' and she especially loves those made with open yarn (which means the sweater hasn't been twisted in the manufacturing process). This is a double-edged sword because open cashmere yarn gives the sweater a softer feel, but it also lends to more pilling, Lyons explained. 'I love them, I just have to de-pill them a lot,' she said, and she uses the Nori x La Ligne Fabric Shaver to do so. (Our experts, however, recommend that you go low and slow with a cashmere comb, like this one from Naadam, if you need to de-pill a sweater.) Lyons loves the cashmere from Suzie Kondi, including this versatile vest. You can layer it over T-shirts and button-ups or under a blazer — the list goes on. Another staple for Lyons is a blazer. Yet there's not just one single style she likes; instead she looks for details, including a proper shoulder, chest piece, and roping, to name a few. She prefers to shop in the men's section, which is something she recommends to others, too, especially when they're looking for affordable options. 'If you want something that is under $300, I would go to the men's section because they put more build in the jackets in general, so a less expensive men's blazer is probably going to be better made than a women's blazer,' Lyons said, adding, 'I wish it wasn't that way, but it's true.' Lyons said the boys' section of Brooks Brothers has nicely made, budget-conscious options, should they accommodate your desired fit and style. If you want something oversize, she recommends the blazers from The Frankie Shop. Among her very favorite blazers are those from Husbands Paris, a French menswear label known for its expert tailoring. She also prefers natural to synthetic fabrics (with the exception of blazers from Khaite, she specified, since its synthetic fabrics have a good body that she appreciates). This wool suit has classic Roman shoulders, a breathable, silk-like lining, and lovely gold shank buttons. It's expensive, but for something you plan to wear often, it may be worth it when you're considering the price per wear. Another easy way to dress up an outfit is adding a good pair of shoes, and Lyons loves a loafer. 'If you're going to buy a pair of loafers, buy a pair of really good ones and break them in,' she suggested. She pointed to 'old-school' brands like G.H. Bass (established in 1876), specifically the Women's Whitney Weejuns Loafers. Or consider vintage loafers from brands like Gucci and Ferragamo (though her adoration for Ferragamo loafers excludes old styles with the loud Ferragamo logo on it, she said). Both new and pre-loved designer loafers can be pricey, but Lyons considers a great pair worth it. Well-made loafers can be resoled, she said, which means they can have a long life in your wardrobe. Finally, no matter the day, Lyons is always sporting a pair of glasses, though she doesn't stick to a single pair of frames. She gets her glasses from many places and likes to frequently check eBay for vintage frames from brands like Christian Dior and Dunhill. Her preferred rotation (one she recommends to others) is a delicate wire frame, a colorful frame, and a solid acrylic frame 'that has some guts to it.' Different days and outfits can call for different frames, so for her, variety is nearly essential when it comes to this accessory. Jenna Lyons These are the wardrobe staples that work for Lyons, and she said she's built her collection over decades of trial and error. And that means not every item here will be exactly right for everyone. But as you look for your ideal white tee or pair of blue jeans, one thing to keep in mind is that you should always buy what you love, even if you have to wait for the right item to come along. The times Lyons has settled for something she didn't quite love, she wound up buying more items as she hunted for something good enough — and often spent more than the cost of the original item. The result: regretting her almost-perfect purchase. 'If I just waited or saved up money, I could have gotten what I really wanted and worn it much more frequently,' she explained. Wise words. This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. Timeless and versatile, jeans are a key player in any wardrobe. We found ten pairs that fit a range of body types, tastes, and budgets. We tested 25 cashmere sweaters—ranging in price from $50 to $500—and came away with six favorites that suit a range of styles and budgets. After carefully scrutinizing fit, feel, quality, and style, we found four white tees that are the best suited for a variety of occasions and body types.
Vogue
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
'I Have Time to Make Some Noise Now—A.P.C.'s Jean Touitou Just Dropped 30 Years of His Own Music
Touitou made his first record in 1995. 'With only 10,000 Francs we took a flight to New York, and I think it's the most beautiful piece of music I ever did: just guitar feedback in E minor with four guitars; it sounds crazy, but it's a beautiful piece of art.' What makes it so beautiful? 'It's totally abstract, there's no structure. Usually, to make a good song, you need a gimmick, you need a hook. Here, you have nothing but guitar feedback. This is why I like it, because it creates emotions, just like a sculpture. It's like a sculpture you can hear.' It was around that time, maybe a few years later, that I bought a Columbia GP-3 portable record player from A.P.C.'s Mercer Street store in SoHo. At $150 or so, it fit the budget of a young fashion writer who spent most of her money on clothes she couldn't afford. 'A lot of DJs bought that tool for when they go to record stores to play the records to check them out,' Touitou recalls. 'We had that store Magasin General next to the headquarters, where we used to sell random things like that.' The little plastic record player, he points out, is a good example of his absurdist streak. Here's another: Around about 1997 he was hanging out with Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola, and Anna Sui. 'I had an instrumental song that was ready and I decided to have all those people read a story from Women's Wear Daily in parallel with a poem by William Blake. It's on the record called Unreleasable Tape.' Dropping all these records is a full-circle moment for Touitou. Long before he launched A.P.C., he had a 'mail order punk psychedelic business' selling cut-outs. Cut-outs are 'records that are cut at the top with a saw. It means they're not for sale, or shouldn't be sold for more than 25 cents. And we were like gold diggers going to American record shops, basically trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.' He credits Lenny Kaye's compilation album, Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, for setting him off on this path, searching for 'collector pieces that nobody knew about.' The Velvet Underground were influenced by Nuggets, and Touitou in turn became a lifelong fan of the band. 'They seem simple to copy, but they're one of the toughest. You have to be so sincere, and you've got to know a few things about sound.' Touitou learned those things from one of his best friends, Jonathan Richman of the Modern Lovers. 'He's the guy who saw the Velvets 100 times, that's his reputation, and he gave me some tips, you know, about how to set up the amps and how to use a wah-wah pedal without doing the wah-wah effect.' Kraftwerk is another longtime favorite, hence the 'Das Model' cover. Touitou says his taste has expanded as he's gotten older. 'I'm not a teenager anymore. I used to spraypaint on the walls of Paris in the mid-'70s something totally silly, like 'Death to Disco.' Now, I can find the treasures in disco, not only the energy and the dancing, but the music itself.'
New York Post
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Shop denim-on-denim and get the Canadian tux for less on Amazon
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. There's a major denim-on-denim trend happening, and it's everywhere. We've been following the look from Paris, London, and New York, cities where dark looks usually reign. But right now, everyone is embracing their denim two-piece era, and we have to say, they're crushing it. From Ulla Johnson's elevated light to indigo layers to A.P.C.'s street-chic styles, denim is the new black. Although we love designer denim, we're also big fans of saving money and getting the look for less. Fortunately, Amazon has some killer fashion styles that are slaying, from cute denim vests to maxi skirts and jackets. Some call it a denim two-piece, but let's call it what it really is…the Canadian tuxedo. It earned its name in 1951 when Bing Crosby, an American singer (for the Gen-Z crowd), was denied entry to a Vancouver hotel for wearing a full denim outfit. Something that seems laughable in today's era but is nevertheless a part of our past high fashion standards when flying was fun and madmen were cool. In response, Levi's created a custom tuxedo jacket for Crosby entirely out of denim, transforming what was once a fashion faux pas into a statement look that is now embraced at even the most upscale establishments. If pop stars from the '50s aren't your thing, rest assured that celebrities like Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar, Austin Butler, and Gigi Hadid, to name a few, are very much rocking the trend. Now go nail the art of the Canadian tuxedo for less with Amazon — no singing required. Women's Denim Amazon The denim vest is the new summer staple because it makes a great breathable top and pairs nicely with a smart pair of jeans or shorts (in denim, of course). Amazon This chic look really qualifies as pants due to the ankle cuff and high waist, pulling off a chill but polished office vibe. These are bound to sell out, especially at this price. Amazon OK, cowgirl, you're on trend. These longer jacket silhouettes are gracing the runway, bringing in a more elevated sophistication paired with jeans or a girl ready to dance the two-step in cutoff denim shorts. The choice is yours. Which will you choose? Amazon The maxi skirt took last summer by storm, and this year it remains a great alternative to jeans thanks to its breezy slits and relaxed fit around the legs. Amazon Available in inclusive sizing and various washes, the bestselling Levi's 501 Women's Shorts are a must-have addition to your wardrobe for the perfect summer look. Amazon Every woman needs a button-up denim top that she can tie at the waist. This one is already cut to perfection, so it lies flat against your waist. If you want more color options, Omoone has 10 shades to choose from. Men's Denim Amazon This classic, regular cut is very trendy right now with the gents, so if you love fitting in, you'll be into these blue jeans. But not to worry, it comes in several other washes if light blue isn't your jam. Add this iconic, sherpa-lined Trucker to your wardrobe, which will take you from work to weekend wear. Machine washable for easy care and lasting wear. Amazon Buy in with the OG: The Levi's Men's 501 Original Fit Jeans. The straight-leg fit offers just the right amount of room while maintaining the classic silhouette, available in regular and Big & Tall sizes. Amazon These jeans provide a laid-back, straight-leg silhouette that is great for all-day wear and weather well. Available in both standard and Big & Tall sizes, the Levi's 559 is the ideal choice for those seeking both style and ease. This article was written by Emma Sutton-Williams, New York Post Commerce Writer/Reporter and resident fashionista. Emma is one of the best-dressed ladies in The Post's office, and also known for finding an unbelievable deal on any one of her stylish outfits. Divulging on everything from the most-popular and most-underrated purse brands to her honest thoughts on Kim Kardashian's Skims undergarments and apparel, Emma has cultivated an eye for style and an expertise for identifying the clothes and accessories worth your coin. At the same time, she proudly models the products she picks so you can see their fit and function first-hand. Emma has been creating shopping guides for The Post since 2024, and previously held bylines in Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Parents, InStyle, StyleCaster and more. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
Associated Press
18-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
LA's Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. Protects Manufacturing Workers Facing Pregnancy Discrimination in Southern California
Trusted employment law firm in Los Angeles fights for the rights of pregnant workers across Southern California. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, March 18, 2025 / / -- Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C., a prominent Southern California employment law firm, fights for manufacturing workers experiencing pregnancy discrimination across Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. With a strong track record of success, the firm ensures that employees receive the legal support they need to combat discrimination and seek justice. Pregnancy discrimination remains a significant issue across industries, including manufacturing, where physical demands and workplace policies can sometimes lead to unfair treatment of pregnant employees. California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) make it illegal for employers to discriminate based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. However, many workers still face wrongful termination, reduced work hours, denied promotions, and lack of reasonable accommodations due to pregnancy. Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. provides fearless representation to employees who experience pregnancy discrimination, helping them understand their rights and take legal action when necessary. 'Too often, pregnant employees, especially those in physically demanding jobs, find themselves unfairly treated or even pushed out of the workforce. We are committed to holding employers accountable and ensuring that every worker receives the protections they deserve under the law,' said Mr. Michael Akopyan, spokesperson for Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) provides robust protection for pregnant employees in California. Under this law, employers with five or more employees must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions and cannot discriminate based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Reasonable accommodations may include temporary transfers to less strenuous positions, more frequent breaks, modified work schedules, and providing appropriate equipment or seating arrangements. Manufacturing environments often present particular challenges regarding these accommodations. 'When a manufacturing employee experiences discrimination because of pregnancy, the impacts can be devastating both financially and emotionally,' adds Mr. Akopyan. 'We offer complimentary case evaluations to help folks determine if they have a case. Our goal is to ensure every worker's rights are protected during this important life event.' The firm has established a strong reputation for successfully representing employment discrimination cases. One client shared: 'I called this week to seek some legal advice, the firm really took the time to listen to me and gave me some very useful and good advice. Thank you for your time.' Another client emphasized the personal attention received: 'Michael is a very good attorney pays attention to his clients listen to his clients listens to what they're saying what they're going through really takes an interest on all his clients he is an awesome attorney I would recommend it to everybody and anybody that needs a GREAT attorney.' The Akopyan Law Firm's team brings substantial experience to pregnancy discrimination cases. 'The Akopyan Law firm is spectacular! They are extremely professional, and if you want your case fought with vigor you must consult Ani and Michael Akopyan. Just look at their track record of wins for their clients and their many years of experience. The Akopyan Law firm is always my firm of choice, and I am confident in their skills. I would recommend them to friends and family alike,' shared another satisfied client. For manufacturing workers experiencing pregnancy discrimination, understanding the legal process is crucial. Under California law, employees typically must obtain a right to sue before pursuing a lawsuit. Akopyan Law Firm guides clients through this process, handling documentation, evidence gathering, and representation throughout negotiations or litigation. Manufacturing employees who believe they have experienced pregnancy discrimination are can contact Akopyan Law Firm for a no-cost case evaluation by calling (818) 509-9975 or visiting to learn more about their rights and potential legal options. About Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. The Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. ( is committed to restoring the balance of power against the government, large corporations, and insurance companies alike whenever they seek to deprive people of their rights. The Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C., is dedicated to defending its clients against oppression and can stand up for them in their time of need. Contact Details: Michael Akopyan Ani M. Akopyan Los Angeles Office: 15821 Ventura Blvd. Suite 645 Encino, California 91436 Phone: (818) 509-9975 Bakersfield Office: 4900 California Avenue, Ste. 210-B Bakersfield, California 93309 Phone: (661) 874-4118 Orange Office: 1100 West Town and Country Road Suite 1250, Orange, California 92868 Phone: (657) 224-4422 Riverside Office: 11801 Pierce Street Suite 200, Riverside, California 92505 Phone: (951) 394-7421 San Bernardino Office: 473 E Carnegie Drive, Suite 200 San Bernardino, California 92408 Phone: (909) 966-5204 Ventura Office: 300 Esplanade Drive, Ste. 900 Oxnard, California 93036 Phone: (805) 504-1205 Note to Editors: • For more information or to schedule an interview with Michael Akopyan, please contact the firm at +1 (818) 509-9975. The attorneys at Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C., are available to provide an expert commentary on employment law matters. • The firm has been recognized for its outstanding legal work, with attorneys Ani M. Akopyan and Michael Akopyan being named to the Southern California Super Lawyers List five times in a row - in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. • Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. has offices in Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura in California. End of Press Release. Michael Akopyan Akopyan Law Firm, A.P.C. +1 818-509-9975 X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer:
New York Times
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
The Shop That Changed What We Wear
Paris is a place for revolutions: the sci-fi fantasies of Cardin and Courrèges, Jean Paul Gaultier's skirts pour homme and the inflated gothic rituals of Rick Owens. All wild, memorable and museum-worthy. But it may be Agnès Troublé who has changed what we wear today, more so than any fierce iconoclast. When she introduced Agnès b. in 1975 (the b is for Bourgois, Ms. Troublé's married surname), many women, including the designer's mother, were still having their clothes made to order. It was not always haute, but it was still couture. Yves Saint Laurent had introduced prêt-à-porter in 1966, but it was Ms. Troublé who moved the needle in the next decade, making cult clothes that were bon chic, bon genre, easy to wear and off the rack. 'I always just wanted to create for every man, woman and child,' Ms. Troublé said via a video call from her studio in Paris. 'My philosophy comes from what happened on the streets of Paris in 1968. And I still design everything myself.' When Agnès b. began, 50 years ago, it was fresh, cool and totally Parisian. Inspired by Ms. Troublé's flea market finds, it was aligned with the art world and 1960s cinema and sold at a more accessible price than Saint Laurent's Rive Gauche. It was where you went for the perfect striped top, white shirt or black pants, and it created the model for dozens of midrange French fashion labels. Without the 83-year-old Ms. Troublé, there would most likely be no A.P.C., Comptoir des Cotonniers, Maje, Sandro or Sézane. Fifty years after she founded it, her business remains family owned, with 242 stores globally. She has sold more than two million snap-button cardigans and opened her own contemporary art gallery, La Fab, in Paris in 2022, showcasing pieces from her personal collection of more than 5,000 works. The designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac worked with Ms. Troublé in 1971 as a stylist at the Pierre d'Alby label, before they introduced their own brands. They remain close friends. 'She was my godmother in fashion,' Mr. de Castelbajac said. 'I remember when she opened her first shop on Rue du Jour. The area was quite underground, like SoHo before it became trendy. Agnès had a very good education and came from Versailles, but she was curious about politics, concerned about society and Catholic.' 'She was full of dualities and wanted her shop to be a cabinet of curiosities,' he continued. 'She would put images from Godard films on the wall and invite performance artists in. She created functional clothes with a touch of rock 'n' roll. The snap cardigan is her manifesto.' Jean Touitou, who founded A.P.C. in 1987, was working at Agnès b. when Ms. Troublé designed the first cardigan in 1979. 'I was playing my electric guitar in her studio above the store one evening,' Mr. Touitou said. 'I remember seeing her come back from dinner, put a black round-neck sweatshirt on a desk, grab a pair of scissors and cut the piece right down the middle. Then, she took snap buttons and put them on the front. It became a worldwide hit.' 'I learned two big lessons that night,' he said. 'Follow your instincts and do things yourself, literally with your own hands. What I also learned from working with her was the virtue of using a small and smart group of people to run a company.' For many young Parisians, Agnès b. became an experience as well as a capsule wardrobe. 'We used to love the giant fitting room in her boutique on Rue Pierre Charron,' Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, who founded the label ba&sh together in 2003, wrote in an email. 'We would all change together. It was such a unique way to shop with friends or family.' Then there are the design classics that people have kept for years and buy repeatedly. 'Her legacy is real,' Pierre Mahéo, the founder of Officine Générale, said. 'I always have in mind my friends, and myself, wearing the striped tees and snap cardigans. It was part of our daily uniform 30 years ago, and I am so glad I still see it today on a younger generation. I'm not sure anyone else in France has been able to master a style for so long.' The clothing at Agnès b. was always conservative, but it was also a blank canvas for Ms. Troublé to project ideas onto. The Artist's Collection of T-shirts was introduced in 1994 with a simple slogan by Félix González-Torres that read, 'Nobody owns me.' Work by Kenneth Anger, Louise Bourgeois, David Lynch and Agnès Varda followed. A recent edition featured Harmony Korine's Twitchy character, produced to coincide with an exhibition of his work at La Fab. The marriage of casual French fashion and contemporary art is something Ms. Troublé officiated. In recent years, we've seen the hip Paris label Études Studio collaborate with the Kitchen, the downtown Manhattan arts center that opened in 1971, and publish its own series of artist monographs. 'Agnès is a true inspiration for us,' Aurélien Arbet, the co-founder and creative director of Études Studio, said. 'She opened a path that no other fashion house had, collaborating with graffiti artists, running a gallery and supporting cinema and art with her magazine, Le Point d'Ironie.' While a lot of labels buy into the art world through branding — see Dior's sponsorship of Judy Chicago's recent shows — Ms. Troublé has a personal relationship with the artists she supports. The current Korine exhibition features work from her own collection, the largest by the artist in private hands. When she opened her first New York shop in 1980, it was on Prince Street in pre-gentrification SoHo, when Donald Judd was still living around the corner. 'I had an instinct,' Ms. Troublé said. 'It was where Andy Warhol and all the artists were. That's how I met Basquiat. Andy bought him a white shirt from the shop, and then when Jean-Michel had a show in Paris, he came to my shop there. I had a call from him at the Crillon at 4 a.m., asking me to go over, but I said … no.' Ms. Troublé's inner circle has included David Bowie, John Giorno and Jonas Mekas, and her history is entwined with downtown New York as much as it is with Paris. 'Shortly after we opened the SoHo store, I had a call from the manager saying there was a girl who really wanted our little pork pie hat, without paying,' Ms. Troublé said. 'I asked who it was. It was Madonna. We let her have it.' On the day I talked to Ms. Troublé, she was wearing the latest version of the snap cardigan. She looked as she has since the 1970s — the same tousled blond curls, smiling, relaxed, open. Around her neck was a scarf printed with one of her own photographs of graffiti art on a wall in Paris. 'I am always looking at the walls in cities,' she said. 'Walls can talk. I love graffiti art. I have three beautiful pieces by Basquiat, but he called himself a street poet, not street artist.' Behind Ms. Troublé was a mood board with photographs of Chiaki Kuriyama in a scene from 'Battle Royale' and Jean Seberg in a striped top in 'Breathless.' 'I met her a long time ago,' Ms. Troublé said. 'I was good friends with her and her husband, Romain Gary. I loved the Nouvelle Vague.' It's unlikely that Agnès b. would be what it is today without the monochrome edge of the French New Wave auteurs. 'The label has a special place in French fashion,' Xavier Romatet, the dean of Institut Français de la Mode, France's foremost fashion school, wrote via email. 'She combined simple, durable clothes with a strong brand identity. Simply hand-signing her first name on the label was a brilliant idea that inspired closeness and trust, creating a community of style and thought.' 'It was accessible fashion, long before the avalanche of fast fashion,' Mr. Romatet added. When I asked Ms. Troublé what she thought the legacy of her label would be, she assured me it would remain independent and in the hands of her family. She has never considered selling, she said. And why would she? The shop has never gone out of fashion, because it was never really 'in.'
