J Mendel has been involved with Le Bal des Débutantes for the better part of a decade; PJ Pascual asks Gilles Mendel all about the J Mendel woman.

When Gilles Mendel took over the family business in 1981, his first goal was to fulfil the dreams of his father and bring the brand from its Parisian birthplace to America. Now based in New York, the brand has become more than just a fur house. After introducing a ready-to-wear line in 2002, J Mendel has become a luxury lifestyle brand—one of the very few US-based fashion houses that offer true couture, making the brand’s presence at Le Bal des Débutantes a vital one.

Philippine Tatler: What makes the J Mendel brand different from other fur companies?

Gilles Mendel:  We are defined by the artistry and innovation of the atelier, and by the extraordinary level of craftsmanship which is informed by generations of fur savoir-faire. Aesthetically speaking, one knows a J Mendel fur by its lightness, and by how it feels when you put it on. Each coat is hand-finished, and the woman wearing it understands those subtle differences that enhance her sense of indulgence and pleasure.

 The second floor of the J Mendel's Madison Avenue flagship which holds ready-to-wear
fur items with the view of the bridal salon at the back

PT: Every luxury brand has an inspiration; who is your muse?

GM: I’m inspired by those icons of the French cinema: Jane Birkin, Charlotte Rampling, Catherine Deneuve, Romy Schneider. They each have a timeless elegance that feels original and effortless. They are my most consistent muses and tend to stay with me from collection to collection. In life, I think my 22-year-old daughter, Chloe, has great style.

 Emily Madrigal wears J Mendel at Le Bal des Débutantes 2014 (Photography by Troi Santos)

PT: For you, who is the ideal J Mendel woman?

GM: She’s independent, sophisticated, and well-travelled. She’s always chic, elegant, and very feminine. She has a strong appreciation for quality and refinement, but doesn’t like to look ostentatious.

 

Learn more about Gilles Mendel and the Le Bal des Débutantes in the latest edition of Philippine Tatler. Available in any leading newsstands and bookstores, downloadable via Magzter and Zinio.