Ann Demeulemeester
The Label
Launched in 1985 and soon cemented as an experimental—yet wearable—line, Ann Demeulemeester has consistently attracted clients who like a little artiness in their wardrobes. The designer mixes and matches different fabrics and then slashes, rips, and tears them, often in a moody palette of brown, gray, and black, though she has been known to tap into a cheerful femininity from time to time. But Demeulemeester’s signature is a slouchy masculine look that references her longtime muse Patti Smith. The singer has sometimes created special spoken-word poetry for Demeulemeester’s runway soundtracks, while her lyrics have often worked their way into prints as well.
The Look
Mistresses of minimal, minus the art-school tricks.
The Designer
Belgium’s Demeulemeester graduated from the country’s prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Soon after, she stormed the runways as part of the avant-garde “Antwerp Six,” which included Dries Van Noten and Martin Margiela, and brought an arty moodiness to fashion. She currently lives in a Corbusier-designed home in Antwerp.
