French designer Isabel Marant has always done things her own way. It's part of the DNA of her brand. Her unique style of upmarket, casual-chic was a refreshing balm that cut through the ultra glam Parisian fashion scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. It's what made her one of the biggest and most watched names in fashion.

Marant designs clothes you can wear everyday, pieces that you'll want to wear everyday. Hers are styles that breathe new life into the rest of your wardrobe. And most importantly, she designs in a way that each piece can be kept and loved for years to come.

We spoke with the designer herself off the back of her latest project, an exclusive collection with Net-a-Porter. Marant tells us about the holiday capsule - a collection filled with wearable day-to-night pieces - and also shares the best fashion and style advice she's ever received.

Tell us about your new NET-A-PORTER exclusive collection. What is special about these pieces?

The Marant girl is a Party Girl, evening looks have always been important for me and I have always loved to create a ‘day to night’ look.

For this exclusive eveningwear collection with NET A PORTER, inspiration came from some of my past runway collections, iconic pieces, that I wanted to twist, main inspiration is the 80s and its music.

We can find silver pieces, black oversized blazer, embellished treated denim, black leather pieces, exaggerated shoulders volumes, XL belts…

 

In your words, what is the DNA of your brand?

My clothes are meant to be worn in everyday life, I try to design them so that people want to keep them for a long time, that is why I focus on comfort, cut and most of all: attitude.

 

Isabel Marant x Net-a-Porter Holiday Collection

 

Where do you draw your inspiration from for your designs?

Main inspiration comes from music, I always listen to music while creating new collections: it is a very important part of my creating process.

Inspiration can also come from a post it I would see on the floor, a woman in the street, a colour of a building..

 

What fashion and trend advice would you give to someone looking to capture quintessential French style?

Just be yourself, clothes need to make you feel confident.

 

What can we expect to see from you and your brand in 2021?

Launching eyewear, both sunglasses and optical, and I am very excited about!

 

What is the best style advice you’ve ever received?

From Marie Rucki, founder of Studio Bercot, she gave me a very important advice that still matters today: “Don’t try to make people wear things you wouldn’t wear yourself.”