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A thirst for travel and a fruitless search
for the perfect tuxedo led Lebanese-
born designer Racil Chalhoub to launch
her eponymous label. Nicole Wong
meets the woman creating the most
covetable pieces of tailoring in London
LAST NOTE
WELL
SUITED
I was born in Beirut and grew up in Paris, a city that
made my love of clothing blossom from a very young age.
My mother used to take me with her to fashion shows in
Paris when I was 10-years old, and I still remember being
mesmerised by them and thinking, “This is what I want to do
one day.”
I studied fashion design and marketing at college
in London and moved back to Beirut shortly after I graduated
to open a concept store with my childhood best friend.
It was a boutique, café and bakery, all under the roof of an
authentic Lebanese house. It was defi nitely the fi rst of its
kind in the region.
I always knew a good jacket
could pull together any outfi t,
and I’ve been obsessed with black
tailored jackets for years, throwing
them over everything from dresses
to jeans. I spent years looking
for something that was not too
androgynous or too classic. When
I realised I wanted to re-invent
the concept of the tuxedo for the
modern woman, I launched my
own label.Each season’s collection
is based around a different
chapter, following the mood of
the Racil woman. I currently live in
London, and the latest collection
is inspired by a woman visiting the
English countryside, so we used
chic tartan fabrics for daywear
and elegant black-tie options for
evening affairs.I have a thirst for travel and
always wish I had more time
for it. Spending time in Asia and
going on safari again are at the top
my list, although my usual haunts
include Mykonos, New York and
anywhere with good snow for a
ski trip.My mother is by far the most
elegant woman I know. I have
never seen her look any less than
immaculate, even at breakfast.
She has an innate sense of style
and has taught me a lot about
the fashion guidelines one should
always keep in mind. These
include good proportions,
dressing with respect to the
occasion or the place and
never wearing anything that
doesn’t suit you just because
it’s in fashion.The Racil woman is always
on the go. She can run from a
business meeting to a friend’s
lunch and loves a good social
outing. Her wardrobe needs to
follow her throughout the day and
carry her from day to night and
from night back to day.My favourite person to follow
on Instagram is Leandra
Medine, the founder of fashion
website Man Repeller.If I could travel back in time, I
would make two stops. One to the
1920s and another to the ’70s. I’m
fascinated by both eras because
they had a ground-breaking sense
of freedom and liberation.My attitude to accessories
hasn’t changed much over
the years. I love big statement
earrings and fun clutch bags
at night, and a basket bag or
something from Mark Cross during
the day.My father once told me, “When
you have to make a decision,
make your choice and stick to it.”
It has proven a very helpful piece
of advice and I take it to mean,
“Don’t look back, as the only way
is forward.”My most memorable fashion
moment would defi nitely be the
date I launched Racil, which was
in March 2015 in Paris.MODERN MUSE
From left: Handbag by Mark
Cross; Leandra Medine of
Man RepellerLeandra Medine