Alexis, what kind of mood is the Mabille woman in for summer 2013? She’s super spontaneous: putting herself together comes easily to her. She loves the sun but she’s a city girl at heart. She is charming but slightly contrary, as grassroots as she is sophisticated. She has a knack for mixing styles – she’s a tomboy who looks sexy in a micro-mini with lots of jewelry.

How does she go about creating her look?
She’s not afraid of anything! She works, goes out at night, travels... she lives life to the hilt and this energy comes through in her clothes because she pushes them beyond their original function with twists that are hers alone. Printed sweatshirts are embroidered with flowers and lace, a men’s bomber comes in large gingham, lingerie lace crops up in graphic motifs on tops and dresses. Linen meets vinyl, cotton mixes with chunky knits and soft colors – pink, white, blue – are revved up with a stroke of black.

Why gingham?
Simply because I love the little checks! In the collective imagination, gingham – or vichy, as it is called in French – is associated with Brigitte Bardot. Here, I refashioned it for a more modern, quirky girl by making it oversized.

The masculine/feminine influence informs this collection...
Yes, and it’s completely unabashed. I launched my label with only one unisex collection. Today, I show separate collections for women and men, but the original spirit remains. I like the idea that my heroine borrows pieces from her man’s closet: The menswear-inspired shirts and jackets are deliberately oversized and belted to underscore the waist and redefine womanly curves. All my girlfriends love that!

And your signature bow?
This season, I wanted to keep it more discreet – but no worries, you’ll find lots of them on accessories in my new boutique.

Speaking of which – the Mabille woman is mad for accessories!
She’s a magpie by nature. She never leaves home without a pile of shiny bracelets jangling on her arm. She shows her gypsy side by wearing large cage earrings and silver necklaces. And because she’s laid-back, she throws on black boots or thick-soled sandals whether she’s wearing pants or a long skirt.

And how does she spend her summer in the city?
Like me: she makes the most of her time in the city, she wanders through the streets of Paris, making sure to stop by 11 rue de Grenelle (7th) for a little shopping with her girlfriends!

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