Team ELLE headed to matchesfashion.com last night for a sneak peek at Jerome Dreyfuss’ new s/s 2014 collection – which, obviously, we immediately wanted all of. The man himself was there, mojito in hand, so we chatted about bags, a possible London store and his wife’s (Isabel Marant) collection for H&M.

What was your inspiration for the s/s 2014 collection?

I don’t have inspirations. The aim of my collections is always to make a woman’s life easier. I have the luck of having a wife who wears everything which inspires me a lot, so I put pockets everywhere, zips everywhere. I try to make each bag as practical as it can be, as light, as soft as possible. So just watching the girls, the way they act, the way they move, I’m trying to make them bags that are useful to them all day, everyday.

Do you have a favourite bag?

Do you have children? Could you choose a favourite? No, usually when the collection is finally finished and in store I cannot look at it aymore, I have to move on.

It’s your second season designing shoes, has your approach changed at all?
The approach hasn’t changed. I’m not changing my taste, my taste is my taste, I’m just trying to do my I just want to make the woman laugh, make the woman happy and make the woman feel good and that’s the reason that I work. For me fashion is just about making people feel good, it’s not intellectual, to make a woman feel good and to make them feel comfortable and confident in themselves. So with the shoes it’s the same thing, trying to be as practical as possible.

Why do all the bags have men’s names?

It started with a joke, a friend came up to see me and she tried one of the bags on and the strap was too short so it was really on her breast and I said ‘Oh, I wish I could be a handbag’. It’s really stupid but it’s the way we started. Maybe one day I’m going to be too old school and my jokes are going to be old and only old women will laugh at my jokes but that’s not a big deal!

Do you have plans to open a store in London?

I’m thinking about it. I’m visiting some stores tomorrow.

We can’t wait for Isabel’s collection for H&M to drop. Have you been trying the men’s pieces?
You know why she’s doing menswear? It’s because I’m wearing her women’s clothes, she’s using me for inspiration! I’m always going to her store and I go into the back and think, that’s a nice jumper, I want to try it on but all the sleeves are too short and I ask her, ‘Why don’t you make them for men?’

See all the s/s 2014 collections

ELLE edits the Isabel Marant for H&M collection

The best bags for s/s 2014