Forever Paris
City of lights enchants as ultimate destination inspiration for Elaine Turner's fall collection
In the film Sabrina, Audrey Hepburn’s character is transformed by her time in Paris and encourages Linus Larrabee, played by Humphrey Bogart, to embrace the City of Lights and all it has to offer.
“Oh, but Paris isn't for changing planes, it's for changing your outlook! For throwing open the windows and letting in, letting in la vie en rose,” she says.
Paris is indeed a magical place, where romance blooms along the Seine and the night sky is illuminated by the Eiffel Tower. Art, fashion, food and wine are the essence of the city and once you’ve said goodbye, you dream of going back again.
Elaine Turner has captured some of that enchantment and used it as inspiration for her fall collection. Once Turner chooses her muse, she turns her attention to a destination and Paris was a c'est magnifique choice. The connection between Audrey Hepburn and Paris are well chronicled in movies like Funny Face and Sabrina and Turner took style details from those movies when creating the collection.
No stranger to Paris, Turner’s love affair began with the city after sipping cocktails at Bar Hemingway in the Hotel Ritz.
“Paris really resonated with me,” Turner says. “It’s larger than life and I really love that hotel and bar.”
Shopping along the Champs Elysees, with stops at Christian Dior along the way fueled Turner’s creativity and imagination. Her shoes and bags aren’t just utilitarian objects either. Turner thoughtfully imagines who wears them, where they are going and why.
A day of shopping and café au lait sipping means carrying the Alex Shopper Tote, paired with the classic pair of Liz Ostrich Ballet Flat in mushroom.
When night falls, the modern Elaine Turner woman in Paris trades the roomy bag for a clutch-either the sleek Makell envelope or the dazzling Madeline Metallic Zig Zag. The flats are put away and in their place are the Soft Point Toe Elizabeth heels in black glitter calf hair or Black Wave Paillette with a Bamboo Shaped Stiletto.
Turner introduced new fabrics and textiles for the collection, embracing five distinct styles reflecting Paris. The St. Germain collection introduces oversized tweed croc and ostrich clutches, while the Versaille collection is a showcase for equestrian inspired bags made from calf hair leathers and the richness of cognac on black. The Moulin Rouge and Bar Hemmingway collections of wristlets, cross bodies and clutches are the life of the party, dressed up in sparkling metallic, bright leathers and sequins.
She hopes the collections will captivate just as one of her favorite cities always does.
“Paris always sweeps me off my feet,” Turner says.
