Quizzed about her favourite colour, Victoria Fernandez shoots back with "black and only black after a certain age!" It’s a fairly predictable response from the Colombian style icon who shimmies around in many shades of black – often Balenciaga – and
Quizzed about her favourite colour, Victoria Fernandez shoots back with "black and only black after a certain age!" It’s a fairly predictable response from the Colombian style icon who shimmies around in many shades of black – often Balenciaga – and modelled in Tom Ford’s comeback show in September 2010.
Still, I am reminded of a 1994 W fashion shoot together – foolishly never used – which displayed other sides of Victoria’s prismatic character. First, she flashed a pair of Princeton orange Patrick Cox shoes – “every time I wear them Mario (Testino) freaks and threatens not to be seen with me,” she said, smiling mischievously. Then she re-appeared with her Holy Communion photograph. Presented like a rare pearl, I was struck by the purity of Victoria’s starched white dress and the profoundness of her young face. Both incidents made me realise that though Victoria (aka Vicky, Miss V, La Fernandez) possesses the style and humour to camp it up, she’s also a fashion muse who believes in the importance of an occasion.
"Victoria possesses the style and humour to camp it up, she’s also a fashion muse who believes in the importance of an occasion"
Being an accomplished cook is part of that. Her celebrated London dinners proved that an alluring and animated hostess could perform culinary miracles in a teeny kitchen: refining the ingredients of age-old classics and furthering the dish’s flavour. Finally, there’s her way with interiors. Recently, she masterminded the 12 Bis bar’s décor. Upstairs, it has the gritty glamour of Brassai’s Montparnasse work – think 1930s subtle lighting skilfully achieved with 18th century mercury mirrors and Osborne & Little wallpaper. And downstairs, it could be the 1970s playpen of a Chelsea-based screenwriter except the low stools and tables are 1940s, the fabric on the walls was once used by Yves Saint Laurent and the simple Italian food, thanks to Victoria’s influence, equals delicious.
Inner Chic drink: 12Bis bar – open on Thursdays and Fridays. Address: 12 bis rue L’Etoile, Paris 75017 Tel: 00 336 85 82 70 17 Email: 12bis@ruedeletoile.fr
Natasha Fraser-Cavassoni is a Paris-based British writer who covers fashion and lifestyle as well as being the author of Sam Spiegel – The Biography of A Hollywood Legend, Understanding Chic, an essay from the Paris Was Ours anthology, the soon-to-be released Tino Zervudachi - A Portfolio - as well as the Chanel book, for Assouline's fashion series.
Robert Beck is former New Yorker currently based in Paris. Also known as C.J. Rabbitt, he is the author and illustrator of several children's books, including The Tale of Rabbitt in Paradis, Un Lapin à Paris and the soon-to-be-published A Bunny in the Ballet.
