My Style: Claire Beermann
Portrait: Sandra Semburg — Courtesy of Claire Beermann
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I don’t 'shop', I don’t write lists and I don’t plan any purchases. The best thing is to pop into a store and discover something you didn’t know about before. Buying fashion is so much fun if you allow yourself to be surprised a little bit. Be open to new things! If you have an idée fixe in mind that you absolutely want to stick to, it’s going to be really stressful.
Please describe your style in three words.
Tennis court, Hollywood, and flower bouquet.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Trying to copy someone’s style that does not reflect your own personality.
Do you believe in role models?
I do, but just as an inspiration to create something innovative by myself. I would never copy someone else (see above).
What are your favourite fabrics?
Viscose, leather, and cashmere.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Paris.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Life is too short to be underdressed. Never dress for anyone else, other than your own pleasure.
Celebrities and style…
Is a combination generating a very successful professional group named celebrity stylists.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Shoes (obviously) and white men’s shirts.
A woman should always look like…
She’s having a great time being herself.
Who taught you what you know about style?
I can’t remember a specific person having taught me anything specific about style. I just observe interesting people around me and on the streets, and I love to watch old movies with interesting characters... But, if I really had to name one person I’d say Coco Chanel: she was such a cool lady!
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I open my closet, take a deep breath and grab the first piece of clothing that catches my eye. Then I create the rest of the outfit around this piece. For me, getting dressed is an intuitive process.
What is your biggest regret?
In terms of personal style, I don’t regret anything. I’d never wear the green leggings I wore in 9th grade ever again, but back then they felt perfectly right.
We will never see you wearing...
Ugg Boots and anything from Desigual.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I love Rosie Assoulin, Marques'Almeida, Each X Other, Jacquemus. Mostly because they all have a fresh and unconventional idea of femininity. I like fashion that is modern, rough and avant-garde, but I don’t like young designers who forget they’re actually designing for women.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Cher Horovitz from Clueless. I would not say so for her clothes, but at least she really knows who she is and exactly what suits her best!
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her eyes and smile, closely followed by her shoes.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A pair of high heels from Charlotte Olympia, an Acne biker jacket, a golden necklace with my name in Arabic on it. I got it in Beirut, which is my favourite city on earth.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Anything from Raf Simons.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to...
Is the little black dress.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Thanks to brands such as Céline, Stella McCartney and Rosie Assoulin, comfort can be very stylish! However, for many people dressing comfortably means putting on an old pair of sweatpants and these are certainly an enemy of style.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Sleep on it for a night before you buy something.
