Inspired by: Isabel Marant S/S 09

Isabel Marant, the ultimate designer of understated Parisian chic, consistently creates the most desirable and wearable collections. Beloved by industry insiders and a coterie of loyal celebrity costumers alike, Marant is renowned for her sexy separates that mix and match to create a look that is studied yet casual, elegantly playful, and girly with an androgynous edge. For her S/S 09 show, she veered away from her Saint-Germain-des-Prés stomping ground and produced pieces that were country inspired—but think prairie, rather than Provence! Peppered with dashes of denim cut-offs, Marant's runway was also filled with quaintly quilted tunics, floral-print frocks, flashes of plaid, and spot-on slouchy suede boots wrapped with metallic chains. Of course, she also turned out her signature staples, like easy-to-wear lingerie-inspired little dresses, tomboyish outerwear, ruffled minis, and fitted henleys, too.



Needless to say, we are completely obsessed with her masterful medley (and the way in which her long-time stylist, French Vogue's impossibly influential Fashion Director, Emmanuelle Alt, put it all together). We're so taken, in fact, that we instantly set out to round up a well-edited selection of similar styles, as seen in today's Inspired By story, for your shopping pleasure. That's right, dear readers, we've done all of the heavy lifting for you! After all, the best part of the Marant aesthetic is to feel (and look) good without having to try too hard...

1. Topshop Embroidered Hem Linen Skirt ($70)
Marant is a master of the embroidered tunic, specifically those that come complete with ethnic detailing. This season she added blue and red stitched decorations onto the front of dresses and tanks, much like the trim on the bottom hem of this linen Topshop skirt.

2. Lancome Juicy Tubes Pure Lipgloss ($18) in Ginger Root
While her name is synonymous with the uniform of the ultra-chic French fashionable elite (and those who wish to emulate their élan), Marant's shows are also notable for their refreshing take on hair and makeup. While the models' tresses always have that perfectly sexy undone look, their maquillage tends to be very minimal and light. We love the dewy-skin, barely-there eyes, and easy lip tints, so accordingly, we found an equally natural beauty product: Lancome's new Juicy Tubes Pure. The paraban-free formula is derived from natural-origin oils and shea butter so it will help you get fresh results with organic ingredients!

3. Zara Miami Super Stone Wash 5 Pocket Jean Shorts ($40)
Rolled and cut-off denim shorts have experienced a renaissance of sorts, appearing on the hips of some of the most in-demand models and Hollywood stars. Of course, Marant's rendition elevates the white-trash-chic style to new heights by combing them with the rest of her rather sophisticated collection.

4. Lauren by Ralph Lauren Turquoise Chandelier Earrings ($48)
Marant is known for her minimal and discreet approach to clothing, though this season the jewelry really popped and made a semi-precious statement. The stacks of bracelets, oversized dangly earrings, and lapis lazuli adorned belts, though not flamboyant, were certainly eye-catching and complemented the ensembles perfectly! Our favorites were the beaded and tiered drop earrings; try these look-a-like chandelier earrings with tousled hair (parted down the middle) to nail the Marant look.

5. Forzieri Ghibli Crocodile Trimmed Cross Body Bag ($478)
With each season, we always marvel at Marant's ability to create exactly what we want and fill the voids in our wardrobes with her well-designed necessities. This season, she crafted the best broken-in and slouchy cross-body bags, so we were ecstatic to find an Inspired By style from Forzieri. It bears a striking resemblance to the IM satchel, without being quite so tough on the wallet!

6. Steve Madden Wrappp Black Suede Bootie ($160)
Marant's exquisite attention to detail means that even the footwear created for the runway is completely fantastic. This season, she offered up metallic-chain-wrapped black and taupe boots that were so yummy, they were practically sold out before they were produced! Marant's designer version were a bit slouchier than our selection, but we think these cropped open-toed booties from Steve Madden are better suited for the warmer weather and will look smart with short-hemmed summer staples!

7. Topshop Linen Blazer ($80)
While her outerwear is always outstanding, Marant outdid herself this season with oversized cobalt jackets that provide the perfect coverage—especially when thrown over a flouncy ruffled frock. Similarly, Topshop's take on this linen blazer is the ideal lightweight material for summer, and its loose shape will lend itself to layering when autumn rolls around.

8. Red Monkey Diamond Back Belt ($275)
To round out our spring Isabel essentials, we had to include this vibrant belt from Red Monkey. The turquoise leather and metallic designs are meant to mimic that of a diamondback rattlesnake; a very chic ode to "Home on the Range," n'est pas?

9. The Reformation Lace Top ($105, 323.203.1102)
Though Marant often offers gauzy eyelet dresses and tops, she also featured some beautiful lace pieces in her spring show. We fell particularly hard for a delicate, almost Victorian-style blouse, which Marant and Alt paired with a tiered floral mini. The look was very vintage feeling, so we had to include this lacey number from The Reformation (a boutique with locations in New York and Los Angeles, they rework antique garments). This chemise would look sweet over a little camisole for an al fresco cocktail party, or under a black blazer for a nighttime soiree. For two equally chic blouson options, try Mary Ping's Lace Tunic ($88) or Forever 21's Lace Lattice Top ($23).—Kate Mulling

Runway Images, from ImaxTREE.