California Apparel News

Vanessa Bruno fêted the one-year anniversary of her Melrose boutique with a star-studded cocktail party and dinner. Celebs including Kate Bosworth, Rachel Bilson, Mena Suvari and Molly Sims turned out for the occasion - all dressed in the Parisian designer’s smartly chic attire.

Rachel Bilson, Kate Bosworth and Vanessa Bruno, photo: Donato Sardella/Wireimage

The intimate celebration, which included Los Angeles’ stylists, editors and trendsetters, was held at Lucques restaurant on Melrose located adjacent to her flagship boutique. It’s no wonder Bruno has attracted Hollywood’s chic set to her brand. Her clothing is designed with an effortless, understated quality that appeals to fashion savvy women around the world.

With a flair for story telling, it's no surprise Bruno's boutique landed in Hollywood. The designer has been making artistic fashion films for the past three years even before they became en vogue. Recently, she collaborated with designer/filmmaker Stephanie Di Giusto to create short films, including "A Visual Poetry," starring Bosworth, the brand’s muse face of the Fall/Winter campaign.

The video entitled "LØV” features Bosworth backflipping through modern day to a mystical setting modeled around Slovenia’s Lake Bled and its Lipizzaner horses. Clad in Bruno’s Fall 2011 collection with her flawless pale skin and blonde tresses, the actress perfectly captured the poetic mood of the season’s Nordic-themed campaign.

I caught up with Bruno while she was in LA to talk about the anniversary of her store, the film collaboration with Bosworth and that effortless quality known as Parisian chic.

Vanessa Bruno, Fall 2011, photo courtesy of Style.com

What made you decide to visit LA and celebrate the anniversary of your boutique?

The relationship I have with my customers is very close. So we decided to do a one year anniversary with the store. Rirst of all, it was to celebrate a success and second it was to meet the people who work with the brand – the stylists and the journalists who might not know the brand. [When] you open a store in one part of the world ….you should be close to the people and the customer to make them aware of what the brand is about.

Who is the Vanessa Bruno girl?

I think she definitely has this feminine [quality], she’s a bit chic, she has an edge, but with a very laid back, relaxed way of seeing fashion. She’s a bit more confident. She doesn’t need to show off. She’s definitely also [ageless] because I can see from a younger girl to a more mature woman, they will definitely find their way into the line.

What is your design aesthetic?

People always ask me what is it about this kind of French, Parisian style thing? And I always say [it’s] about not changing too much and to know yourself. Of course it’s about changing, but in a way you’re not radically changing your silhouette. I think the way I treat my collection is that a girl at one point will find a reference or pieces - beautiful shirts or jackets, or really feminine dresses - they will find a piece they feel confident in [and say] ’Oh yeah, I had this dress I wore two years ago, but I can still wear it. I can find something different now, but it’s still in the same lecture.’ That’s what I mean. I think that you can go for something a bit more new and challenge yourself as a designer to see what you can do. But I always try to keep it in balance with truly, ’would I wear it as a woman?’

How did the collaboration come about with Kate Bosworth?

She’s so inspiring. She’s really independent, but with a lot of class in herself because she knows what she wants. She dares to do things that a lot of actresses wouldn’t do. How we met? We were at a dinner and I showed her my little poetic movie. And she said, ’I love that, I would definitely love to do one.’ And I called her three months later [and I said] ’well, you said…and I just love your personality you’re like my little sister.’ She said, ’I will do it,’ and she came.

How would you describe her style?

She has her own taste. She is elegant, and at the same time very relaxed. She doesn’t make too much about it. I always say less is more and she’s definitely that. She is exactly for me this kind of girl who represents Parisian style, but in a cosmopolitan way. For me, Parisian style is not just about being Parisian, it is about living in LA, having this little thing. Living in NY,…having this what we call Parisian style. And you can have it also in Asia.

What inspired you to make this movie?

We always create starting from the collection. It was like I had this whole [idea] of the mood, an Ingrid Bergman persona. That was my mood board for the collection. And then when I do the film I always project into it and say, ’Let’s imagine the short film, three minutes, the girl has to look at it, feel emotional. Look at the collection without putting it too in your face like it’s a marketing thing, or I’m selling a bag of something, but really taking the girl’s spirit out there. Emotionally she’s beautiful, she’s poetic, she’s vibrating with nature, she’s in osmosis with nature. It’s all those kind of elements that I try to [relay] which is actually just a trademark of the brand.

What inspires you as a designer?

I like a lot of contemporary art. Actually I’m going to the museum because I think LACMA and MOCA are really important. I need to see what is on. I think also what LA is doing with contemporary art is more and more important. There are very important American artists who are from the LA scene. I can also be inspired by movies. I love the movie I saw recently, “Drive.” It’s done in the aesthetic of LA, the music and everything. It’s a really cool movie.

What’s next for Vanessa Bruno?

Definitely I’m planning to open more stores. I’m also launching a children’s line [for Summer 2012]. It’s going to be available just online for the moment.

Vanessa Bruno, Spring 2012, photo courtesy of Style.com