Roger Vivier’s New Muse Jeanne Damas on How French Girls Do Fashion Week in Heels

When we see Parisian It girl Jeanne Damas dash in front of the lenses of any number of street style photographers this Fashion Week, undoubtedly she’ll be tipping about on the statement heels of Roger Vivier’s Fall 2015 collection.

 After all, the 22-year-old doe-eyed and ever-soigné blogger was just tapped as the fabled Parisian luxury shoewear label’s new muse and campaign star for its latest collection—an appointment that adorns Damas with one of the sickest shoe games this side of the Seine. After Damas won a turquoise patent leather Miss Viv handbag made by Roger Vivier at a charirty auction last year, she felt compelled to send along an appreciative email to the label; the bag, she noted, reminded her of one Catherine Deneuve had carried in Belle de Jour. That casual correspondence would develop into a friendship—and eventually a collaboration with the powerhouse accessories brand. But of course: Who else could imbue that certain, ineffable French cool into each step like Damas?

It’s also the reason why we turned to her for intel on how French girls always seem to amass an enviable inventory of statement heels, sandals, and booties, but never let the OTT accessories wear them. Though brushing off the idea of footwear “rules,” the self-described “jeans and T-shirt kind of girl” does concede, “If you’re going to wear statement shoes, it is best to keep your outfit simple.” Pairing ballerina flats with a minidress, and heels with jeans, Damas inverts fashion expectations with French flair, offsetting even the most daring styles with a signature nonchalance when she hits fashion’s front rows. “I cannot wait to wear the new Belle Vivier Trompette thigh-high boots with a pair of jeans or a short sweaterdress,” she says.

But must one actually be Gallic born and bred to weather those towering heels and survive the nonstop hustle of Fashion Week, days packed with shows and scouring East Village vintage shops, dinners, and after-parties? Turns out, even “effortless” French girl style is not without its strategies. Advises Damas: “Travel by car or by bike! It helps to avoid walking too much and hurting your feet.” But, she concedes, there’s sometimes nothing chicer than letting things come a bit undone. “Don’t be afraid to remove your shoes if you are dancing late at night.”