Designer Jenny le Roux walks the ramp
Designer Jenny le Roux walks the ramp
Image: Supplied

What was the inspiration behind this collection? Oh this is the question that I always dread because that sort of inspiration doesn’t just leap at you, it slowly dawns on you while you’re panicking about what you are going to do next.

What’s “complicated? The state of the world, families, relationships, work, any day to day issues you can think of – they’re all complicated. I started making “It’s Complicated” t-shirts in a small way which sold like hot cakes. It’s all La La Land and even that was complicated!

You used a lot of velvet which is a big trend this season. What’s it like working with velvet and why should every woman own a velvet piece this winter? Working with velvet used to be a nightmare, but all that’s changed with modern technology. The velvet of today doesn’t just come in the most wonderful Disneyland colours, but it stretches with the bod and best of all is washable which means it is a great add on to our travel wardrobe. You ask why every woman should own a velvet piece – it’s a huge cheer up if your life is complicated.

There’s a lot of volume and movement in the collection. What inspired the silhouette? All my flowly pieces definitely disguise lots of body imperfections. I love volume and that’s where a ready-to-wear label like Habits has an advantage over your average chain store. It’s sexy, skims the body and without sounding too clever by far, it really does appeal to every age. 

The collection is totally on trend but also references the classic Habits silhouette - how do you get the balance right every time? Well thank you for that because that’s possibly one of my difficulties. I know that I am known for the classic Habits silhouettes, but Fashion Week gives me the chance to go just go one step further and push the boundaries. Things that I thought would only look good on the ramp actually sell really well.


A few stand out looks from the collection:


What is it about the white shirt? Firstly it’s androgynous and anyone that thinks an over-sized shirt is naff, think about Julia Roberts in Pretty Women. Talking about films, how was Uma Thurman in her white shirt and cigarette pants in Pulp Fiction (in fact that was my finale music)? It’s so timeless and the best friend of any career woman. It doesn’t matter what fabric it’s in – linen, silk, voile, organza with big collars, small collars, mandarin collars or no collars. Every woman should have at least five white shirts in her wardrobe and my favourite is still the tuxedo shirt.

What is it about black? Wearing black instantly makes it look as if you have lost five kilograms and what more could you want? If you have any classy jewellery it shows it off perfectly and it doesn’t show the dirt.

Do you wear sneakers? Yes. My curent favourites are an Ash pair of silver leather sneakers that I’ve had for a few years and I don’t think I’ll ever part with them.

Your colour palette was jewels with touches of bronze and animal/bush-like prints. What inspired the palette? Regarding the animal/bush-like prints, in the beginning I hadn’t intended it to look like a warzone, complete with camo, hats bag etc. and that’s why at the end of the scene I did the sort of dress I don’t normally do – a voluminous gold shirt waister made using ten meters of taffeta which just billowed down the ramp and softened the whole scene.

Which do you think is going to be the standout/iconic piece of this collection?Of course I loved the billowing dress, but to me the standout piece was the emerald three-piece velvet men’s suit complete with tie and bright yellow waistcoat. In fact it’s what I feel like wearing this winter.

Are all the items on the catwalk going to be for sale in store and online? Most of them will be available in store and a selection online at habits.co.za.


1 Cavendish Close, Cavendish Street, Claremont.
021 671 7330 
info@habits.co.za

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