Portuguese-born Felipe Oliveira Baptista worked at labels including Max Mara and Cerruti, founded his namesake label in 2003 and in 2010 was named Creative Director of Lacoste.
Designer runway collections can often seem out of touch with the needs of real women, but they can also be a great place to source fresh fashion inspiration.
” Lacoste’s Spring 2012 runway collection was almost 80 percent womens, a marked shift for the brand.
Baptista played with the label’s French heritage, sportswear roots and tailoring, churning out wearable must-haves including perfectly cut sleeveless shifts, parkas and full length jersey gowns.
With a keen understanding of the way that urban power women want to dress, both at work and on the weekend, Baptista shared some style rules women should live by.
A wardrobe of great basics can go a long way.
Baptista suggests that every woman should own “a good coat, a parka, a timeless trench, jeans that flatter, a black dress and, of course, a Lacoste polo.
” Those few things can be a great base on which to add jewelry, fashion-forward shoes and a colorful handbag.
Look to the Runway for Inspiration:Designer runway collections can often seem out of touch with the needs of real women, but they can also be a great place to source fresh fashion inspiration.
Color-blocking was a key trend on Lacoste’s Spring 2012 runway, and Baptista suggests looking for “wearable neutral versions of the trend.
” Instead of pairing red, green and blue pieces together, which might be too loud for the office, opt for grey, nude and white separates to get the look.
The womens fashion mistake that makes Baptista shudder.
Getting older doesnt mean you have to sacrifice your personal style, but it does mean you should probably trade in the leather miniskirt for a razor sharp pencil skirt.
The easiest way to take your look from day to night Baptista says is “popping on a pair of heels.
” Store a classic pair of black pumps in your desk drawer, so you are always cocktail party ready.
When designing, Baptista thinks of a woman “who wants fuss-free, desirable and comfortable clothes.
” Not surprising sentiments from the Paris-based designer—French women are renowned for having perfected easygoing elegance, or as Baptista often says, joie de vivre.
Julia Macdonald is a fashion journalist based in Cairns, Australia. Julia has a passion for fashion stories and loves writing about fashion news and fashion opinions that matters most to its audience. Julia spends a lot of time discovering and researching latest fashion industry news stories in order to make sure the latest and greatest stories are brought to you first on Stylerchic.com.
