I was fashionably late to tea this afternoon. Lucky for me, my fellow American in Paris understood the difficulties with transportation due to the student demonstrations in Paris on Thursday afternoon. I was relieved to find my guest for tea relaxing comfortably on the overstuffed chair with her sketch pad and pencils jotting last minute ideas following the meeting she had just had with a bride to be. This was not the first time either of us had enjoyed afternoon tea at the Bristol Hotel in Paris, but it was the first time we shared it together, but, I venture to say, probably not the last. Feeling a bit nervous by my tardiness, Ms. Marvin-Letourneux put me immediately at ease with a warm smile and greeted me with air kisses of friends rather than the hand shake of a first meeting.
I was surprised by her little pewter python bag. “Your’s?” I was sure it must have been. “No, no, not at all, it is something I picked up in Italy.” She wore python shoes, presumably from the same maker, beige trousers, a brocade beige and cream jacket stopping just above the knee, a sheer floral blouse with tiger-eye buttons and a organza scarf around her neck not obscuring her signature pearls. She exuded refined elegance in her mélange of Givinchy, Valentino, and Giorgio Armani. I struggled to see one item with her label. She assured me the trousers were hers. Graceful flat front, side zips with covered buttons on the zipper flap. She looked elegant, relaxed and sophisticated.
Alexandra Lampert: “You are very discrete about wearing your own creations?”
Jennifer Marvin: “No, no, I wear my own things, but I really appreciate the work of other designers, as well. I always think the ‘total look’ is always a bit too much, so I like to mix it up.” It seemed she would have rather spoken of the genius of Mr. de Givenchy or Valentino than of her own work. “Their work is and was timeless and two of my greatest inspirations.”
A.L: “How did you initially get into the fashion industry?”
J.M: “I think it was just in my blood. Everyone in my family is creative. My father creates beautiful buildings, my mother stained glass, my oldest sister puppets…”
A.L. “Puppets?”
J.M “Yes, my oldest sister makes black light stage puppets. Really great, I especially like her sheep.”
A.L “So you have been creating all of your life then?”
J.M. “Yes, forever. I was always doing something with my hands. Embroidery, beading, sewing, painting, drawing…always making something”
A.L. “How did you get from the ranch in Colorado to Paris, France?”
J.M. “You know, it is just how life went; I suppose it was just meant to be, I hadn’t planned it that way. I find that if I go with the flow I just end up where I am supposed to be at the end.”
A.L. “So, you just sort of floated here?”
J.M. “Yes, I suppose you could say that.”
A.L. “What can we expect this coming autumn?”
J.M “I am very excited about the crocodile collection coming out under the label of Vivian Mendal. That will be available for the fall of 2006. The design process has been such a labor of love and everyone on the team is very passionate, creative, and genuine pleasure to work with. We have been having a great time designing it and putting it together, I can hardly wait to see the end result.”
A.L. “This is the first time you have designed an exotic collection, right?”
J.M. “Yes, this is the first time, and it has really engaged my passions. To begin with, Vivian and Mark Mendal are just the most genuinely delightful people you could ever meet. Secondly, the skins are such wonderful quality and Mark has developed such beautiful finishes and effects. The scales, textures and properties of the skins make the possibilities limitless. The pieces can be cut in different ways to produce various effects. Fortunately, we have access to the most beautiful skins and some of the finest artisans in Italy for this collection. It is really a very different niche than working with the leathers I had been used to working with. Fortunately, the traditional craftspeople in Italy were really open to working the skins in innovative and new ways while keeping the traditional techniques.”
A.L.: “What can we expect this fall as far as apparel goes?”
J.M.: “You know, I had really been concentrating on my leather goods, but have continued with some private collections. You know I never stop doing wedding gowns. I can’t seem to give that up, I just love it so much. I am currently considering a new branding opportunity, but it is in the very, very beginning stages. I promise to keep you posted, Alexandra.”
A.L.: “You won’t give us a little hint?”
J.M.: “I’m sorry, I really can’t at this stage. I can only tell you that it would be a very good fit with the leather goods projects I have been working on and it would be a reflection of my favorite styles, so it would be a great pleasure. But, we will see…I can’t let you drag it out of me, you wouldn’t want to jinx it, would you?”
A.L.: “Certainly not! Jennifer, thank you for your time. It has been a great pleasure getting to know you.”
J.M.: “Thank you, Alexandra; I was delighted to spend this chilly afternoon with tea getting to know you. I hope we can meet again without your little tape recorder to chat as friends.”
A.L: “The pleasure would be all mine.”
Meeting Jennifer Marvin this way was a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to that private cup of tea becoming friends “off the record”.
