Reformation is on a roll right now.

This month alone, the sustainable retailer has announced collaborations with sneaker brand Veja, a ballerina-inspired line in partnership with the New York City Ballet, and now, a capsule collection designed by French-American cool girl Camille Rowe.

“I began shopping at the Reformation store on Ludlow when I first moved to New York, and I still have many of the pieces I purchased from their vintage inventory,” says Rowe. “We collaborated for the first time in 2014 and this time, Ref gave me full autonomy to design a collection inspired by my personal aesthetic.”

Described as a collection “designed for it girls by an it girl,” the lineup includes glittery party pieces, slinky dresses and elevated basics like cashmere sweaters, straight-leg denim and the perfect button-down shirt.

We asked Rowe to share her most-loved piece from the collection, but to pick just one would feel like choosing a favourite child. “I wore the Bevelyn to our launch party in London so it is special to me,” says Rowe. “The nude colour combined with the clear deadstock sequins creates a super sexy wet dress effect. It’s definitely the showstopper of the collection.”

Ahead, we chatted with Rowe to learn more about the collection and get her take on dressing like a French girl (spoiler alert: leggings are a no-no!)

You’re well known for your “French girl” style but there’s also a Cali feel to your look. How would you define the way that you dress?

“I think there is something very French but also Californian in the simplicity of my style. When in doubt, I default to a great pair of jeans with a perfect tee or classic sweater. For dressier occasions, it’s hard to go wrong with a beautiful slip dress. I’m constantly on the hunt for special vintage pieces, and more often than not I opt for black.”

What inspired you when working on the collection?

“My first collection with Ref was sweet, summer-y and a bit ’70s inspired. This time I wanted to bring something richer and more adult to the table. There is a moody, vintage and hedonistic vibe throughout. I was particularly inspired by Tom Ford for Gucci which to me, embodies the height of sex appeal in the early aughts. It’s the perfect collection to take us into fall-winter dressing and has some sparkle for the holidays, too. I love a little bit of sparkle for special occasions.”

As a lover of vintage fashion, what are your rules for shopping second-hand?

“There are no rules. I’ve collected an amazing archive of pieces over the years through my travels. I inherited my love of vintage from my dad and am always on the hunt for my next piece.”

Do you have a vintage piece in your closet that’s especially important to you?

“There are two vintage pieces in my closet that I recreated as part of this collection which are quite special. One I actually purchased at Reformation, the Laurien, which is the perfect, ultra simple LBD that belongs in every closet. The second is a sleek maxi dress, called the Beyla, which has a halter neckline and a demure ruffle detail that adds that little something extra to make it perfect.”

Do you have any tips for capturing the “French girl” aesthetic?

“Keep it simple and sexy. There’s nothing more classic and chic than a simple white button down. There’s a myth that French style is effortless but there’s a lot of effort put into a simple and refined look. French women dress up–don’t be afraid to make an effort and be a bit more decadent. And avoid leggings at all costs outside of the gym.”

Shop the Reformation x Camille Rowe collection online at thereformation.com.

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