TATIANA DE NICOLAY MODELLING THE LATEST PRET-A-PORTER ON HER STYLE INSPIRATIONS AND WHY SHE'S NOT A TYPICAL PARISIAN

Aristocratic designer Tatiana de Nicolay seems to have been destined for the world of fashion.

- AMALIA QUIROGA

'Fashion allows you to identify yourself. It's very personal and diverse. I think it empowers us'

The daughter of Count Ghislain and Countess Elizabeth de Nicolay, she grew up surrounded by glamour and creativity, playing with her paints and crayons while her mother dreamt up prints for couture.

Now, having become a mum herself last year with husband Pierre d'Ormesson, it's she who is balancing motherhood with her work for major brands.

Here, at her elegant home in Paris, she models new-season prêt-à-porter for HELLO!, as she tells us all about it.

"I think becoming a mum has made me stronger and more determined to achieve my professional goals'

Tatiana, how would you describe yourself?

"I'm an illustrator, water colourist and designer. It's difficult to put a label on me because I do so many things.

"I've always liked fashion, so I studied in Florence and did internships in big fashion houses like Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris and Manish Arora in New Delhi.

"When I realised that I actually liked creating prints more than designing clothes, I went in that direction and have been doing it ever since, including a lot of work for interiors brands. I'm passionate about it."