Girls in Rouje: portraits of inspiring women

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It is out of love for women that Jeanne Damas created Rouje in 2016. Today, her inspiration leads her to interview female figures. Let’s take a look back at these portraits.

Rouje: the love for women 

Jeanne Damas is the story of a true Parisian who loves to dress up and loves her city. So, when in 2016, she launched her women’s ready-to-wear brand, Rouje, we were more than delighted. 

With her label, the fashion influencer reinvents her ideal wardrobe. She designs clothes for women, always with the idea of highlighting them. As she puts it so well, “I like the idea that in Rouje, we see the woman before the garment.” Her fashion pieces are indeed an homage to femininity, the kind that is embraced and sensual. 

Surrounded by her stylists and creators, Jeanne draws inspiration from vintage codes to portray the Parisian woman. Never vulgar, but undeniably sexy, with Rouje’s collection, it’s all in the details. High-waisted jeans, retro floral dresses elegantly accentuate the silhouette, and printed skirts subtly reveal the legs. It’s all about moderation, suggesting rather than showing off.

In Rouje, women are chic, nonchalant, and confident. 

So, the woman is Jeanne’s muse. The woman as inspiration, the woman as a driving force, she can be found behind the camera and behind the scenes. And she has made this love for femininity her creed. Rouje speaks to women, the ones we see on the streets and in the movies. And since she is always in the spotlight, she has also made it her fight. 

Today, she decides to tell the stories of female figures that inspire her. She also gets involved with La Maison des Femmes, of which she becomes an ambassador in 2021, and with Les ReCréateurs, a collective that helps reintegrate women through sewing. 

Les rencontres en Rouje, a project by Jeanne Damas

Dressing women was not enough for the Parisian icon; she had to go further. Inspired by encounters, discussions, and beautiful things in everyday life, Jeanne wanted to put the spotlight on the journeys of women who caught her attention. 

That’s how Les Rencontres Rouje came to be, a series of portraits in which she gives these women, these artists, these mothers a voice, those who are free and live by their own codes.

With her camera, Jeanne meets these unique Parisian women whom she dresses in Rouje.

6 women whose portraits are enhanced by Rouje

1- Sara Kontar 

Through her collective Eyes from Syria, Sara likes to tell stories, things, and people. She opens up to Jeanne about her journey and exile with her twin brother from Syria to France. She also talks about how her art has sustained her and helped her survive. A unique portrait filled with authenticity. 

2- Frankie Wallach 

Frankie grew up with the story of her deported grandmother as a backdrop. She turned it into a cinematographic portrait halfway between a documentary and fiction, which she named “Trop d’Amour” (Too Much Love). She reflects on this personal project with a family legacy, her motivations, and the shooting process. 

3- Bettina & Patricia 

First neighbors, then friends, Bettina & Patricia have become partners and founders of Drei, a sustainable decoration store located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. In their portrait, the two women confide in Jeanne about their career change, as well as their vision of the Parisian woman, the free woman as they like to see her. 

4- Coralie Kory

Coralie is the founder of Jah-Jah, a plant-based restaurant that highlights Afro-Caribbean cuisine. But it is also a meeting place and a space for exchange. In her interview, Coralie talks about her vision of Paris as a place of cultural diversity. She also reflects on her relationship with image and self-acceptance. 

5- Awa Cissé

Awa wears two hats. She is both a human resources manager and the founder of La Razzia, a vintage concept where she hunts for and resells fashion and decoration items inspired by the 70s. In her interview, she opens up to Jeanne about her dual professionalization and her relationship with Paris, the city of opportunities and the art of living, according to her!

6- Josepha Raphard

Josepha is the founder of Loma Club, an open discussion group dedicated to mothers from all walks of life. In this intimate interview, she explains her relationship with motherhood and how the arrival of her daughter allowed her to connect with who she is and with other women. 

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