Ines de la Fressange & Jean-Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 Couture ShowKarl Lagerfeld is very kiss, kiss over the muse he once fired: Inès Marie Lætitia Églantine Isabelle de Seignard de la Fressange, born 11 August 1957. Lagerfeld is not responsible for her comeback, although his halo is bathing her head in the new issue of V Magazine #68, where Mr Lagerfeld names Inès de la Fressage as his favorite muse.

Inès de la Fressange | Jean-Paul Gaultier Spring 2009 Couture

It was Jean-Paul Gaultier who brought Inès de la Fressange back to the runway for his Spring 2009 couture show. With Kanye West and Kylie Minogue on stage, the then 51-year-old model, accessories designer and style icon charged with co-leading the rebirth of Roger de Vivier shoes, strutted her French indy style to cheering crowds. 

Emotionally moved, Inès de la Fressage removed her cream color jacket, showing the world what 50 looks like French style.

Mr Gaultier was caught up in the moment, ran down the runway on a photographic coliision course that we share with Anne of Carversville readers. A little digging produced big results today.

Ines de la Fressange & Jean-Paul Gaultier, Spring 2009 CoutureFashion models “are not just 14-year-olds,” Mr Gaultier said later. “There are no [age] barriers to beauty.” Ms. de la Fressange embodied the sexuality demanded in Gaultier’s scorchingly seductive Spanish themed show, making her the right woman for the moment.

Tom Ford makes a similar comment in his current interview with US Vogue.

At the time de la Fressange swore her ebullient return to the runway was a one-off saying “For me it was like a Sunday. This is not my job anymore.”