I met with Aurelie Bidermann because I just couldn’t get my eyes of one of her piece I had spotted in a magazine. One of those I have to have it moment… Since her line is now available online, I spend hours browsing, hesitating and making a very long list for Santa!
A breeze, Aurelie Bidermann is just a dream. Totally uncomplicated, straightforward, no sweat, a piece of cake – and a pretty one too. She wears no make up, a simple black dress -hmm Alaia s’il vous plait- with flats.
How can you not love this girl. No diva in her, just a sense of simplicity and fun.
Ok, so now we meet at San Ambroeus and she is already there, sipping a cappuccino. Like her jewelry, Aurelie is pretty and unaffected, whimsical and yet her energy is strong, she certainly knows where she is going. Purpose and beauty mixed together.
Actually, during the 2 hours we spend together, she moves from a butterfly energy: flirty and romantic, to this old soul with a deep perspective on the world and finishes with this sexy comment.
Check out her answers, I left the meeting feeling she could be a friend, one that you trust no matter what, and also a sister, the one you just can spend hours giggling with. That’s the way Aurelie makes you feel!
So let’s start with the quiz
Where do you find inspiration?
AB: Museum and shopping, definitely shopping (she laughs).
What is your most recent coup de foudre?
AB: A cherry Alaia dress – the same color as my nails - she is a fan of the couturier since her teenage years and has been collecting his dresses ever since… would love to check out her closet. Rephrase that.. I am green with envy
I ask her what her current state of mind is but she brushes the question with a simple gesture of the hand and a gentle: I prefer not to answer “ZAT” one. OK now right there is a very Parisian trait: a polite manner of keeping some things personal. Discretion. French women have this air of mystery, they do not share the real deep personal stuff that we are used on this side of the Atlantic. Perhaps we should send them a truckload of our shrinks – HEY no screams, we still have plenty!
What is your greatest indulgence?
AB: To forgive others and myself, nobody is perfect (she says this with a profound maturity)
What is the quality you most like in a man?
AB: A sense of humor, being charming and he must be focused on me (my mouth drops… I make her repeat… with her French accent it sounded like f**ck us… I share that with her and she says: yes that too lol!)
What is your motto?
AB: Love, Fantasy and Serenity
Are you in love or in the mood for love?
AB: in the mood for love even when in love. Because there is nothing better than flirting, dallying. She laughs with a twinkle in her eye, very Lolita!
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
AB: Generosity, trust (and you know she has both in large quantities!)
Who are the women that inspire you, in world history, in fiction or in real life? A muse?
AB: A mix of my mom, specially her carefree style in the 70‘s. I think of the jewelry that I would want to wear. My girlfriends.
What would be the best compliment a man could give to a woman?
AB: it would be waking up after a late night with puffy eyes and hearing him say: you are beautiful. Then you know it’s love because he is taking about the real/inside beauty.
A true romantic at heart, she confides that she lived in New York for 2 years with her American boyfriend… I should have suggested her to stick to the French because one thing we will all agree upon is that we have few bachelors in NY … how about for each shrink we send to Paris, we get a french bachelor?
What is the best thing that French women have? and American women?
AB: French women, they are natural, chic, cool in and easy going in their looks. It’s like: we don’t want to try hard. American women: I envy their perfectionism. I admire it, because me I’m borderline chaos. The American, even when it’s hot and humid, their hair is perfect, their nails are perfect and I’ll be sweating!
OK so right there is a myth that goes down the drain: Aurelie does 1h 1/2 of Barre au sol with a coach 4 times a week (that is the grueling Ballerina training before they start dancing)
Now food, I ask.
AB: In Paris, I never watch what I eat but I mean it’s much easier than in NY. The portions are much smaller. There is no doughnuts. In France I eat meat and vegetables and in NY the equivalent is hamburger and fries. I adapt.
BTW, her favorite address is Barney Greengrass! and yes I had her repeat to make sure she was not talking about Barney’s restaurant!
Do you have a French secret?
AB: never ever do I wear foundation. It is the secret to a beautiful skin. Foundation looks like pancake. (Well that works when you have that young and pretty skin already because if I don’t not wear foundation… I look like a big pink thing with dark circles in the middle but enough about normal people)
Anyway back to Food, Any Favorites?
AB: A Roblochon cheese
SURPRISE: this girl not only sweats but she eat smelly cheese and yet managed to score an American boyfriend…
ENVY: And he would whisper You are so beautiful in the morning when she has no makeup.
CONVICTION: she sold her soul to the devil.
ADMIRATION: she gets to buy Alaia dresses with the proceeds.
BRILLIANT: Nobel Prize Material…
Before we separate, she insists on dispelling a French myth to our readers… French women are not naturally thin, they work hard at it.
Well I am happy to hear this. So French Woman try hard. They just do it the Parisian way which seems effortless, polite and discrete.
