The Wonderful World of Fifi Lapin: Style Secrets of a Furry Fashionista

By Fifi Lapin

Even the most savvy fashionistas have a lot to learn from the "world's most stylish bunny" (Elle). Indeed, Fifi Lapin—a spoiled rotten illustrated rabbit and in-demand fashion blogger—knows her couture from her carrots. Her blog of whimsical outfit choices and fashion musings has made her an icon among designers, style bloggers, and thousands of fans worldwide. Here, she reveals the best of her fashion secrets, sharing advice on finding the perfect pair of jeans, layering trends with classics, and crafting personal style without paying couture prices (like she does). With a perfectly pretty cover, hundreds of cute illustrations and runway photos, plus inspiring interviews with top designers such as Anna Sui and Paul Smith, this is every fun-loving girl's go-to guide to looking fabulous every day of the week.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chronicle Books Digital
• Release date: Mar 16, 2012
• ISBN: 9781452114019

Fifi Lapin

Fifi Lapin is an illustrated bunny whose image is frequently seen in the fashion world: in the pages of Vogue, Elle, and Teen Vogue; on T-shirts at Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, and Barneys; and adorning cards at Topshop and two backpack collections for LeSportsac.

Book preview

Introduction

Hello. I’m Fifi Lapin, and I’m a fashionholic …

While my friends were dreaming about a world made of grass and carrots, I knew that true happiness resided in a well-stocked wardrobe. Inevitably, my mother is to blame. I remember gazing up at her in awe from my playpen as she fixed her sparkly earrings that went perfectly with her polished shoes before she hopped over to the dressing table to pick up the matching clutch bag. As I got older I would steal a spritz of her Chanel No. 5 and desperately push tissue into the ends of her Jimmy Choos just so that I could catwalk along the edge of the window seat imagining I was one of those long-legged beauties I’d seen in her glossy copies of Vogue. Given fashion was so clearly imprinted in my DNA, it’s perhaps no surprise that I find myself thinking about Mulberry’s Alexa bag while I’m brushing my teeth or Louis Vuitton bunny ears while out walking Stella, my dog. Sometimes these visions can take me quite by surprise—last week I was talking to my accountant and, as I looked up from my iPhone (modern technology can be so distracting), I realized he’d turned into a very fabulous jewel-encrusted swallow-print Miu Miu heel.

A couple of years ago, I began a blog about my wildly fashionable life. As I took a front-row seat at fashion shows around the globe, scoured countless magazines and look books, and people-watched the days away, my admiration for our talented designers grew and my personal style stature developed to such a degree that Elle dubbed me the world’s most stylish bunny—a hotly contested title, let me tell you. And then my darling editor called and asked if I would consider sharing the wealth of knowledge I had gleaned after hours of collating and curating my hat, shoe, scarf, bag, dress, trouser, shirt, and jacket collection with you, the reader. How could I refuse?

As my favorite subject aside from fashion is myself, in the coming pages I’m going to talk you through a few of my own wardrobe dilemmas. These are situations that I’m sure you’ve probably experienced in your own life—like what to wear when you’re whisked off on a romantic date with barely a moment’s notice, how to do casual without looking like a slob, and how to make it impossible for anyone to refuse to give you what you really want. Sound familiar? Thought so …

I might be a trust-fund bunny, but at heart I’m just your average rabbit. So, while all the outfits I’m modeling are high-end designer, no need to worry—it doesn’t matter if your allowance won’t stretch to that fresh-from-the-runway Dior frock. You can learn a lot from the designers (they are the experts after all) and bring that knowledge to wherever you happen to shop. Main Street is rightly famous for its fast turnaround of catwalk-inspired clothes, and vintage is very accessible right now, so I hope my little book will inspire you to break out of your safety zone and get creative. Plus, thanks to the wonderful partnerships between the designers and retailers that have become so à la mode recently, it’s easy to get a little bit of Stella McCartney at a non-stellar price. And don’t forget accessories; they can really make an outfit pop. Some say real estate is the best investment, but I say you’ll never regret the money you’ve spent on a good-quality handbag.

Style is not just your attire; it’s your attitude. Stay true to yourself, wear what you like, and wear it with pride. When it comes to being stylish, there are no hard-and-fast rules. Clothes are there to keep us warm and to stop us from showing more than is proper to the man on the bus, but fashion is there to make us feel fabulous. This book is about celebrating the joyful adventure that is getting dressed, so have fun with fashion, and you’ll be just like me!

MONDAY

Style Bunny

Or, how to look fluffy and stylish every day of the week …

Monday

Why don’t you like Mondays? I absolutely love them. When I stand in front of my wardrobe contemplating the week ahead, I often think of the Great American Novelist Mark Twain (and you thought this was a shallow book about fashion, shame on you!). Twain said, The finest clothing made is a person’s skin, but, of course, society demands something more than this. My personal philosophy is never disappoint society. Today society is my best friend, Ruby Gatta. We’re having lunch, and I need to strike the right balance between relaxed and chic.

Fifi’s TIPS for Everyday Style …

Learn from the masters. Decide who your favorite designers are and follow them over the seasons.

Express your personality. Style comes from within, so don’t be afraid to be unique.

Make the most of your figure. Whether you have gorgeously delicate ankles or a beautifully sculptured décolletage, highlight your assets! See below for more tips.

Appreciate timeless essentials. A simple white T-shirt, a beautifully cut blazer, a perfectly fitting pair of jeans are all classics. Once you have the basics