When Louise Damas, the stylish French jewelry designer and sister to French It Girl Jeanne Damas, recently confessed that she doesn t attend many fashion shows, they do so in a very French, very unaffected, very charming way. “I m more into accessories," Louise tells Vogue.com via email. These days, Louise is busy prepping for the next lineup of her namesake collection of semi-precious necklaces and rings—delicate pieces that are still substantial enough for daily wear. But you can bet that when the 26-year-old founder of the newly-launched concept store Atelier Couronnes, does attend shows (such as her friend Simon Porte Jacquemus’s line), Louise will surely be with her sister.
The Parisian siblings share a knack for haphazardly throwing on a “why-didn’t-I-think-of-that” combination of cool separates that seem native to the best-dressed women of their country. They instantly manage to make any outfit look fresh and modern: say, tucking the perfect sinuous silk blouse into a pair of mid-rise faded denim while accessorizing with a pair of espadrilles and a red pout. And all without plotting out looks before shows. “I love a lot of different styles and I like to dress in the moment, according to my current mood," Louise says. Still, a look from her sister’s Rouje collection often fits the bill when dressing up for Fashion Week. They’re no longer roommates—so call label-trading the sisters’ grown-up way of borrowing clothes.
They’ve also made breaking away from fashion events a family affair by dashing off for a post-show meal at their parents’ restaurant, Chez Philou. “It s a cut from work. Family mood, good French food, and great natural wines!" Louise says. And for a pair of sisters who grew up within its boisterous and lively environment, the restaurant is a return to roots that go beyond the table. Their mother, after all, always wore designer clothes “in a very feminine way” to helm the restaurant. “I think she inspired us a lot,” says Louise.