“It’s a fully realized collection with its core firmly rooted in denim,” Dahan explains. “It draws inspiration from the history and heritage of blue jeans but it has a feminine aesthetic and a point of view.” There are also some pretty iconic fashion references behind it. “When we started this process, we were looking at images of Britney Spears in the ’90s and Dior pieces from Galliano’s early years at the house,” says Hanoch. “I also looked back through my design archives, all the way back to my days at Guess in the ’80s.” With designers such as Calvin Klein and Vetements riffing on classic denim tropes—overalls, western cowboy shirts, and the Texan tuxedo—on the runway, that elevated approach to the humble fabric couldn’t be better timed. And given their expertise, the cut and fit of their denim is just as exacting as you’d expect.
“We want to reach the denim aficionado who will appreciate the construction and also those who are simply attracted to the look and the feel of our fits,” says Dahan. It doesn’t hurt that he has one very stylish denim aficionado living right under their nose, namely his wife Elsa, Jean Atelier’s brand manager. A quick scroll through her Instagram reveals precisely why she’s the unofficial muse for the collection: She manages to make even the most simple pieces appear polished—skinny black jeans, cool white T-shirts, moto jackets, and yes, the occasional lace blouse and overalls. And with the full collection launching online today, mastering that easy sense of chic just got a lot easier.
