Vanessa Bruno Talks About Her Latest Film, Femininity and Frenchness

PARIS–Yesterday, in a secret cinema room at the bottom of a café in Saint-Germain, Vanessa Bruno held a private projection of her latest film. This is the third time she has created a full-blown short movie to convey the atmosphere of her latest collection.

Entitled Day for Night, it is directed by Stéphanie Di Giusto, and features Parisian models and muses Lou Doillon and Valentine Fillol Cordier.

This short movie poetically explores the complexities of femininity by portraying its two heroines exploring, fighting, and taming nature.

Fashionista met Vanessa Bruno at the end of the projection, and chatted to her about her views on fashion, femininity, and being French (and the three combined).

Congratulations on the film! It’s nice to see that, when a lot of brands are doing punk, you stay true to your original identity.

I know what you mean, there seems to be a need today for everything to be dark and gloomy, which I find a real shame. There needs to be more poetry–of course poetry can be realistic and raw too, but I crave something with more emotions and honesty.

And yes, my universe has and will remain the same, whether on photo or film.

What appealed to you in film?

I’ve always enjoyed the crossovers between media, and entering other artistic universes. I love the feelings a video can create – and it appeals to me because of the emotional dimension it can add to the brand. This is no mere marketing videoclip.

And how did you choose the models?

I don’t like the idea that fashion can dictate the model of the moment. The girls I work with feel good here because they sense exclusivity, an intimacy, something long lasting. For example, it is the fourth time I work with Lou, and I’d rather chose someone that really corresponds the brand universe than a super famous actress. I don’t care about proving that I can get so and so.

But I want the woman to be beautiful, strong, mysterious – and even if she is sophisticated, she should be a little wild too.



What about the Vanessa Bruno woman in real life? You might be Parisian, but you now have boutiques in Los Angeles and London–quite a radical change, no?

No, you’d be surprised; we’re in a cosmopolitan situation. What most interests me is how people appropriate and re-interpret my clothes. The way my collection is built gives you the freedom to re-adapt it in many ways.

Do you have a Parisienne view on fashion?

My main thing is, you should feel comfortable in your clothes–never have an age or figure criteria. I can’t stand the idea of women becoming a caricature of fashion. The woman who manages to be effortless – she’s got it figured out.