Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXIII

2 0 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I F rench brand Bonpoint designs clothing for little princes and princesses that is both practical and cosy, but also whimsical and charming. Having just celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, the brand is a testament to classic French style, with each piece handcrafted in the couture atelier set in the heart of Paris. Inspiration for each collection comes from Artistic Director Christine Innamorato. And it seems the entire globe has become more and more enchanted with her fairytale world. Who could forget KateMoss’s ethereal wedding in 2011 featuring a cortege of Bonpoint flower girls, all dressed in exquisite ivory silk and chiffon dresses created by the brand’s Parisian atelier. The brand includes collections for newborns and babies, boys and girls, as well as shoes and its own skincare range. Teenage girls are not forgotten either thanks to its smart YAM collection, which features metallic bomber jackets, military detailing and whimsical yet trendy pieces like gingham dresses and kitsch cardigans. For winter 2016, Bonpoint dreams of sweet & happy things with four different themes: Jules & Jim, Heid, Wild and Sweet Couture. Everything is imbued with the wistfully poetic world of the circus and Bartabas’ Zingaro equestrian theatre. With Jules & Jim, girls adopt a more androgynous look by borrowing pieces from the boys’ wardrobe: an overcoat, a duffle coat, a two-piece suit, a velvet tuxedo, high-waisted jeans with big turn-ups, and an argyle sweater withmatching long socks. But sobriety quickly gets pushed aside by a pair of gold sneakers, a printed bow tie or a scarlet beret. We embrace the simple blouses embellished with ruffled collars just as much as the tightly pleated English tartan kilts and frothy jacquard sweaters. Graphic prints such as polka dots, little cats and big birds rub shoulders and run merrily with English and Japanese tartans. For Heidi, Innamorato is daydreaming of a back-to-school look that’s resolutely folkloric. Preppy becomes eccentric with a brazen bright red and colourful Bavarian embroideries. There are Franz-Joseph inspired coats with golden buttons and panther collared capes, cross-back braces and felted Edelweiss brooches to silver double-strap ballet slippers and an officer’s cap. Wild brings supple wool, cosy Mongolian lambskin, cashmere, warm prints, delicate lace and fluffy mohair to the collection, as this theme is all about cocooning. Shades of milky white and cream, with accents of acid yellow make for a bright and luminous winter. Marled wool is embroidered for the iconic dresses and the beloved Bonpoint cherries come in gold or silver lurex, turning sweaters into surprising sweatshirts. Stone-wash jeans, a faded floral print, cable- knit sweaters and natural sheepskins compose the perfect wardrobe for a theme inspired by nature and wide open spaces. The collection’s final theme, Sweet Couture, is close to the brand’s heart. Here we find iconic designs renewed in unexpected colours. Sweet Couture indulges in every possible shade of pink, from powder to dusky, from sugared almond to strawberry pink, all uniting with greys and milky white for a silhouette that couldn’t be sweeter. This theme focuses on sublime materials and beautiful finishes as well as trompe-l’oeil jewel prints. Setting the tone are ivory quilted silk jackets with mother-of-pearl buttons, candybox coats, a Liberty print shirt with braided collar, a tulle skirt embroidered with gold or silver drops, a rosebud print cashmere twin-set, a Swiss dot cotton blouse and jeans whose pockets are rubbed with gold powder. So many fantasies in one season means a childrenswear line full of enchantment and a touch of French magic. Swathed in the imaginary and the mysterious, it truly is a collection that sings of old-world charm and nonchalance. BONPOINT A/W 2016 CHILDRENSWEAR