Admit it: beyond slipping into threadbare tops and light-as-air slips, the onset of warm weather has had you recently conjuring up images of dining al fresco, lazing in the balmy air, and showing off sun-kissed skin from a day à la plage. And that seems to be the precise intention of the young, now-illustrious designer Simon Porte Jacquemus.
Hailing straight from the small town of Mallemort, self-taught creative Simon Porte Jacquemus is obviously no stranger to the culture and lifestyle of the south of France. While the trope of picturesque, coastal living isn’t exactly new, the designer’s cultish take on laidback, barely-there dressing seems to have seeped just about everywhere. Call it the Jacquemus effect: his effortlessly chic and simultaneously ultra-wearable look has quickly become the one to channel, delivering pieces that oft carry the ability to transport you. Perhaps beyond championing revamped riffs of Gallic style, the 28-year-old is also serving up a dreamy, slice-of-heaven aesthetic and aspirational lifestyle. As Jacquemus previously elaborated, he’s not just selling clothes—he’s selling you on a story.
Among the new, current crop of must-know designers, Jacquemus has proven himself successful in striking the delicate balance of playful minimalism and creative conception that garners praise from the industry’s biggest critics and results in merchandise repeatedly flying off the racks (Spring 2018’s mammoth straw hat reportedly sold out four times). As most recently demonstrated during his finale walk at Autumn/Winter ’18, where he trotted out in a hoodie emblazoned with “L’homme Jacquemus” to signal his soon-to-come foray into menswear, he clearly shows no sign of slowing down.
The designer’s social presence has also undoubtedly contributed to his cause while promoting the carefree, easily strung together look; his Instagram (which currently shows upwards of 500k followers) is a perfect example, blurring the lines between a “personal” and “brand” account. Scroll through for a medley of cinematic Gordon von Steiner-directed clips and digital triptychs that feature Simon’s selfies alongside professional collection shots set on a black sand beach. His bio—in French, of course—lists “stripes, the sun, poetry and Marseilles,” amongst his favorite things, an innocent and genuinely sweet descriptor that seamlessly translates in the threads his models wear down the runway every season.
If you haven’t already, there is no better time than the present to dip your toes into the now-illustrious-designer’s most prominent trends via his own pieces and plenty others.
Barely There
Wispy, fluid and clinging to the body, these pieces are crafted from the kind of free-falling fabric that would sway with the slightest gust of wind. Square-neck tops are held in place by slim spaghetti straps, while the dresses carry a dare-to-bare mentality.
The Reinvented Shirt
A far cry from your 9-to-5 button-down, Jacquemus’ versions are superfluous and robust in their structure. They drape and gather all at once, nipping where you’d want to draw attention to your waist, and pulling away in a grandiose manner around sloping shoulders. The asymmetry, the puffed sleeves, and the generally deconstructed look…they’re all made for a breezy time.
Spotted and Striped
An homage to the classic French feel, polka dots and the Breton stripe have been a consistent theme in the designer’s palette. When it comes to summer dressing, tried-and-true patterns, which, in this case, are also neutrals in their own right, are always appreciated.
Geometric Earrings
Two always make a pair, but who says they have to match? Whimsy lives in the accessories department and feels a bit like wearable bric-a-brac. The label’s mismatched sets inject a dose of playfulness in a totally chic way.
Itty Bitty Bags
When temperatures start around 80 degrees but truly always feel closer to three digits, one can rarely make a case for lugging around large, overstuffed totes. For the I-have-everything-I-need essence of a mini bag, turn to the tiny Chiquito and a slew of other purses for just the essentials.
