My Impeccable Style Guru – Emmanuelle Alt

Plenty has been written about Emmanuelle Alt’s (one of my favorite fashion icons) imitable rocker chic french style. What I admire most about Emmanuelle’s style is that she knows exactly what it is and sticks to it. She doesn’t jump on board every new trend, she is discriminative and always original.

Alt started her career in fashion at a young age when in 1986 she joined 20 Ans magazine – becoming fashion editor-in-chief in 1993. She then moved on to become fashion editor-in-chief of Mixte magazine in 1998. After 2 years at the helm of Mixte, Vogue Paris beckoned and she took a position as a fashion editor. In February 2011, following the departure of Carine Roitfeld, Emmanuelle took over as editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris.

Emmanuelle’s style relies on quality basics -  skinny cropped jeans (in various colors), leather pants, over sized shirts, luxury tees, fitted blazers and amazing high heels. I would love to have just one peek, at what must be a stunning shoe collection. When asked about her style, she had this to say, “I like vintage. Balmain. Givenchy. Chanel. I love jeans. And I wear a lot of it – on the other hand I hardly wear skirts “.

Since she said it best, I’ll leave you with Carla Bruni-Sarkoz’ thoughts on Alt’s impeccable style, “Emmanuelle has an unaffected way to be feminine; She doesn’t wear makeup, wears little jewelry, hasn’t had surgery. She reflects how Frenchwomen are feeling—simplicity is the state we all want to be in.”

Get A Jump On Spring – Milan & Paris Street Style

Who says  the last weeks of winter fashion has to be drabsville? Get the jump on spring and vamp up the pizzaz quotient in your style with a look at a few of my favorite street snaps from Milan (above) and Paris (below) fashion weeks.

Get The Look For Less – Emmanuelle Alt Voque Paris Editor-In-Cheif

Vogue Paris editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt attended her first New York Fashion Week since assuming her new role with the magazine back in early February. She looked stunningly awesome in her signature rock and roll style that she describes as “British high street”… “My jeans are Topshop – I love Topshop. When I go to London my first thing to do is I put my stuff in the hotel and I run to Topshop – they have the best jeans!”

Alt became obsessed with the world of fashion after seeing her first catwalk show at the age of 19. Alt recalled that time saying, “My first fashion show was a Jean Paul Gaultier show when he was at Porte de la Vilette and it was crazy outside. I loved it! I was like ‘Oh wow, this is really funny!’”

Before becoming Editor of Vogue, Alt climbed her way up in the fashion world holding prestigious positions with the magazines Mixte and French ELLE. The business of fashion runs in the family as her mother, Françoise, was a Lanvin and Nina Ricci model in the ’60s and ’70s and her husband, also in the fashion business, is Franck Durand, the artistic director of Isabel Marant.

Pictured here (the paparazzi went crazy for her) at New York fashion week, she donned an Isabele Marant chambray shirt, Joes Jeans and Givenchy ankle booties. Don’t have the funds for Emanuelle’s tres chic look? No worries, we’ve come up with a selection of great finds to get Emanuelle’s look for less.

Ann Taylor Refined Chambray Shirt $74.99 www.anntaylor.com, Free People Skinny Cropped Jean Orig. $68.00 on sale for $39.99 www.freepeople.com, Avon Lace Bootie $44.99 www.avon.com, Zara Belt with Contrast $19.99 www.zara.com.