The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite fashion and how she sees herself. And yet, a good dress also has a strong personality of its own.” The designer believes women often have the same problem in finding the ideal dress that she had when she was a young teenager. “There’s more fashion choice than ever before in human history, but something’s missing: that special piece, produced responsibly and with care.” This special piece is “a dress that will make you feel strong and womanly. A dress that will get you noticed when you walk into any room, regardless [of] what’s in or what’s out this season; a dress that transcends fashion.” For this reason, she started Dress by Julie de Libran. “It is devoted to the highest standards of de- sign, of workmanship and responsible, sustainable production. I have designed twelve basic models - I prefer to call them stories since each is named for the powerful female presence who in- spired it.” There are currently 21 different styles in her ‘stories’ that are available in long, medium or tunic length, with some of them offered in more than one fabric. Coming from two of the finest mills in Europe, the first in Switzerland produces extraordinary embroidery on special machines and are exclusive to the brand as well as made in extremely limited qualities. The second mill in Italy supplies exquisite fabrics from their archives and ends of rolls and again is produced in very limited qualities for the brand. The designer aims to provide a kind of timelessness that makes each dress an instant heirloom that frees it from the churn of seasonal collections. “The creation of unique pieces made ac- cording to the highest standards in a more mindful way is the direction I believe fashion will increasingly be taking,” Julie said. “But in any case, it is the direction I am taking. It represents not just how I design but how I live as a creative person and mother in a faster, busier and increasingly throw-away world. These are meant to be pieces women will hold onto and cherish.” Julie’s creativity blossomed after she studied fashion at Istituto Marangoni in Milan and Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris. She went on to work with Gianfranco Ferré in Milan from 1991 to 1994 and was asked by Gianni Versace to become his assistant in 1996. Two years later she moved to Prada and oversaw the brand’s women’s ready-to-wear, made-to-meas- ure, celebrity dressing, and lingerie collections, later rising to the position of design director at Miuccia Prada’s right hand. When she returned to Paris in 2008, she served as creative direc- tor for women’s ready-to-wear and head of the design studio at Louis Vuitton under Marc Jacobs for the next six years. She was then given the opportunity to oversee a great house on her own when the legendary house of Sonia Rykiel tapped her as artistic director for a five-year run. All of these experiences eventually led her to launch her own label Julie Le Libran Paris in June 2019. With a collection consisting of both couture and ready-to-wear, several garments draw the eyes. From the couture collection which is made-to-measure in Paris and consists of numbered limited editions, the Louise Evening Dress made up of a top and skirt is crafted from a silk mousseline pearl base and features allover mirrored sequin fringes. The top has buttons and fringed volant edge in the neckline and sleeve while the skirt has a side slit. For a cocktail dress with a difference, the Judy Jewelled Cage is crafted entirely from rope brass chains embellished with smoked crystals. It is designed with a black silk crepe de chine under- dress and features jewelled clasps on both shoulders. An outer- wear garment that would shed light in a room is the Elizabeth Evening Coat Dress crafted in a tweed base with allover embroi- dered sequins. It features jewelled crystal buttons in trompe l’oeil and is lined with black silk satin. The ready-to-wear selection, which is also made-to-measure and designed in numbered limited editions, consists of colourful and unique pieces such as the day-to-night Jules Flower Cocktail Dress which is crafted from a flower printed jacquard. Embel- lished with a jewelled crystal embroidered necklace, it is lined with black georgette and fastens with an invisible zipper in the back. The dress can be worn with black tights and high-heeled boots. Interesting is the Bluebird Tunic in White which is inspired by a wild, proud, and exquisite bluebird. “There are a few things that lift the heart like seeing a bird spread its wings,” says the designer. This is exactly what Julie de Libran thought of when she designed the billowing sleeves of this tunic in silk crepe de chine. It features an all-in-one cape which also creates the effect of the sleeve. The neckline is attached and embellished with a chain and jewelled tassel adorned with crystals. Martine Evening Dress in a choice of Sand and Silver Grey is described as very French and the name of the dress she inspires. The brand goes on to say the French are masters at making some- thing simple go a very long way. “Slip into it like a t-shirt. Once it’s on, you’re dressed.” An evening dress crafted from silk with a simple pure shape, Marine has a v-neck and a gathered elasticat- ed waist that makes it very comfortable. It also has a removable jewelled clip at the neckline and a jewelled belt. Julie de Libran also designs exquisite jewellery pieces such as the Cuff Bracelet with Crystals, an antiqued gold-tone metal bracelet that is evocative of the Art Deco era. The strands are adorned with round and teardrop-cut smoked crystals and rope chains for swinging movement with every step. The Chain Necklace is a bronze-tone metal piece with a pendant shaped like a flower em- bellished with crystals that can also be worn alone as a brooch. It has rope chains and sparkling strands that create movement. The Bird Brooch has a centrepiece shaped like a flower embel- lished with coloured crystals in a choice of leopard, emerald, ca- maieu or jet black and sparking strands that create movement. Instead of a standard necklace, why not try the Scarf Necklace with Crystals which embraces your neck like a scarf? This gold- tone metal jewellery piece is embellished with baguette-cut smoked crystals and features flaring drops at each end. It fastens with a concealed hook to allow it to rest gently around the neck. As each Dress by Julie de Libran is made-to-order using exclu- sive limited quantities of fabric, the team at the brand is on hand to help customers find the perfect dress and fit. For further de- tails, check on the website. www.juliedelibran.com