Inès Marie Lætitia Églantine Isabelle de Seignard de La Fressange (born 11 August 1957) is a French supermodel, fashion designer and perfumer. She achieved prominence in the 1970s and 1980s as a runway model and was notable for becoming the first model to sign an exclusive contract with the haute‑couture house Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld.
Early life and family
Born in Gassin, Var, France, La Fressange is the daughter of André Jean Bernard de Seignard, Marquis de La Fressange, a stockbroker, and Cecilia Lita Sánchez‑Davila, an Argentine‑Colombian former model. Her paternal lineage belongs to French nobility dating back to the 15th century; her ancestors held the seigneury of Fressange in the Velay region of Auvergne. She grew up outside Paris with two brothers and attended the Tournelle Institution in Courgent, followed by the Notre‑Dame de Mantes‑la‑Jolie school in Yvelines, obtaining her baccalaureate at 16. She subsequently studied at the École du Louvre in Paris.
Modeling career
La Fressange began modeling in 1974 at age 17 and quickly gained visibility. In 1975 she appeared in photographs for Elle magazine by Oliviero Toscani, later working for designers such as Thierry Mugler. In 1983 she signed an exclusive contract with Chanel, becoming the first model to do so; Lagerfeld regarded her as a muse because of her resemblance to Coco Chanel. She was often described as “the talking mannequin” for her willingness to discuss fashion publicly. After a dispute with Lagerfeld in 1989, La Fressange’s association with Chanel ended.
Business ventures and design work
In 1991, with financial backing from the luxury brand Orcofi, she launched her own label, Inès de la Fressange, opening a boutique at 12 Avenue Montaigne in Paris. The line offered clothing, accessories and perfumes inspired by her family’s heritage. After losing control of the brand in 1999 due to equity dilution, she later regained rights and re‑launched an eponymous collection in 2016. Since 2013 she has collaborated with Japanese retailer Uniqlo on design projects.
Personal life
La Fressange married Luigi d’Urso in 1990; he died in 2006. The couple had two children. She continues to be active in fashion, modeling, and design, and remains a prominent figure associated with Parisian style.