When Nadège Vanhée-Cybulski, Artistic Director of Hermès’s womenswear, was 19—or maybe 21; those years, she says, are a bit blurry—she put together a look she was really proud of: “I wore huge, baggy, really oversized Levi’s with tiny, tiny, skinny black T-shirts,” she tells me. “I had really short, short hair, and I used to wear these white clogs.”
At the time, Nadège was a student at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium, the Antwerp fashion school renowned for producing such talents as Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, and Dries Van Noten. She describes her collegiate aesthetic back then as “sort of techno, with mystique”. She was really into Britpop; as a teen in Lille in northern France, she and a friend wrote for a music zine as a way to get into shows for free.
It’s hard to picture Nadège, now 43, with “short, short” hair, so distinctive are her long auburn waves, porcelain complexion, and serene expression, which have, on more than one occasion, garnered comparisons to a Renaissance portrait. Her look when we meet—a tan cashmere coat with toggle clasps, a dark sweater, jeans, and a brown Kelly 32—is also a far cry from anything that could be characterised as “techno, with mystique.” Instead, she projects a precise and restrained cool, a quality she brings to the runway.
This story is from the April - May 2022 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April - May 2022 edition of Harper's Bazaar India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
...Carry A Rockstar Look?
Remember the iconic advice from Bob Dylan: "Sometimes you have to bite your lip and put on some sunglasses"? He, of course, took it strictly, crafting his musician persona with those classic black Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Now it's your chance to create your own stylish journey with a timeless touch of sophistication.
The Yarn Story
A slew of homegrown labels are making a case for why knitwear could be a year-round choice.
HOLA BARCELONA!
From art, culture, and architecture to a buzzing nightlife, Spain's second-largest city has something for everyone.
BEAUTY NEWS
All that's fresh in the world of beauty right now.
THE NEW FRONTIER
Explore the shift towards holistic body care.
'CELEBRATE YOUR SKIN TONE'
In an exclusive conversation with Bazaar India, make-up mogul Laura Mercier, who recently launched her products in India, talks about her career, the flawless look that she pioneered, and shares make-up tips.
GREAT STRIDES
A psychoanalyst explores how women have taken control of the sartorial narrative over the centuries, embracing fashion as a subtle yet powerful form of self-expression.
FROM ASCENT TO APEX
When rising star ANANYA PANDAY crosses paths with resurgent legend ZEENAT AMAN, it's a celebration of womanhood in all its glory.
INDIAN LEGACY, GLOBAL OUTLOOK
Tracing Welspun Living's journey from its humble beginnings in Gujarat to its international dominance in the home textile industry.
PAGE TURNERS
These forbidden romance' novels defy expectations and redefine love.