My Style: Diane Pernet
Photo: Hassan Havier — Courtesy of Diane Pernet
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
People should wear whatever they feel good in. No rules.
Please describe your style in three words.
Authentic, simple, elegant.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
To let the clothes wear you and not the other way around.
Do you believe in role models?
Why not, but I don’t think that I ever had one.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Cotton, cashmere, alpaca, viscose, and silk duchess satin.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
For spirit, Tokyo and London, and for classic luxury, Milan.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Dress for yourself.
Celebrities and style...
Equals cash for the brand and attention for the publication.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Shoes and bags and coats… impossible to name just one.
A woman should always look like...
She is comfortable in her skin.
Who taught you what you know about style?
No one. When you are young, you are searching for your own identity and you try many things; one day, if you are lucky, you’ll find yourself.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Very easy, I like uniforms.
What is your biggest regret?
Not having the discipline to give up sweets.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Fashion is something you buy, and it has a sell out date; style costs you nothing and is eternal. Make your own choice.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
No, if I love something, I buy it. I am not a comparison shopper.
We will never see you wearing...
A jogging suit.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Aitor Throup, because he is constantly in search of perfection, so much so that he spent six years to develop his own way of making an armhole; how many designers are that brave? I love his work and how it mixes precision with a social consciousness.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Living? Catherine Baba always looks amazing, especially riding a bike.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her smile.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My custom made sunglasses by Ozona aka Sandro Gonnella and custom made shoes by Natacha Marro. Also, my silver spiders by Mario Salvucci and my spring coat by Dries Van Noten.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
More than one specific image, it was the role that cinema played in my life. It was at one moment actresses like Anna Magnani, Sophia Loren, and Lucia Bose, and then it was the costumes in the films by Pasolini, Visconti, Fellini, Truffaut, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Joseph Losey.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
I love Rick Owens and Dries Van Noten.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her coat.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not for me.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Catherine Baba.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
“Follow the three R’s: respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.” — Dalai Lama
