Caroline Sciamma-Massenet is the founder of SKIIM, a fusion of Parisienne chic and London cool, specialising in leather pret-a-porter and accessories that are a complimentary essential in a modern woman’s wardrobe. Here we catch up with Caroline about her life in lockdown, her love for Jane Birkin and her favourite Donna Ida jumpsuit.
Tell us your biggest lockdown achievement
It has been the experience of a lifetime and we were all affected by it, not only emotionally but our everyday routine has changed so much. It was very positive, bonding with kids and family but also challenging; home schooling, cooking meals everyday, getting new ideas, finding the strength to keep doing without knowing what will come up next. The teaching was tough for me as I’m not the most patient woman on Earth, but I was amazed that I was able to do it for the past two months! That is something I'm proud of! I also find the Zoom calls quite cool to catch up with my team. I can talk from anywhere in the house and even managed to stay near my oven to get some heat at some point while still texting my team. I found it quite interesting to work in the house, taking my time, organising myself. And still managing to take selfies with my samples for social media, whatever I could do, I was doing it. I loved improvising in every situation.
If you could be locked down with anyone – not including your friends and family who would it be and why:
I’m a true girl’s girl so I find my inspiration through women, definitely. I’m fascinated by many of them but most likely the natural ones with charisma, like Jane Birkin, I was always fascinated by her aura, voice, her fragility, the way of life of sense of style she has. So, instead of picking someone in Human Rights, I will go with my passion and emotion by choosing that women who represents the most adorable and stylish and a great mother, to talk about everything that life could offer, the joy of life.
Show us your favourite ‘moment’ in your home. What do you look at every day that makes you happy, it can be a thing, a person, or just a corner of your home.
My bathroom makes me happy because we have animal print wallpaper that makes me feel amazing everyday. It is my favourite colour, it is full of light, I film lot of videos in that room and, some nights I hide in there to have a cigarette so I feel like a teenager. I also love my vintage bar Gio Ponti in my drawing room, it’s just so chic, we put our best bottles of Tequila which means, we will all have a good time for happy hour after work. Every piece in my house has a meaning, it’s my comfort zone. Like this one in our bedroom that came from my family, Napoleon III, actually my mum used it as a bar as well. I put my photos albums, candles in there next to little treasure from my kids.
We all buy beautiful clothes, handbags and accessories that we love but never seem to use. Let’s see your top 3 – styled if you can!
I’m obsessed with clothes and accessories but have in mind that I keep them forever. Everything I buy, I keep wearing them, either differently or season after season, never wasted. Here are some I rarely wear but love them, like that; sequinned pink dress from Alexandre Vauthier for special occasion but stunning. These boots from Balenciaga in silver that I love to style with many of my niche looks. And that patent red trousers from SKIIM which I find very flattering and sexy, but red patent is very striking and to be used in moderation hahaha.
Can we see your daily denim – what jeans are you wearing all the time right now.
I keep wearing these flare jeans from Stella McCartney, they are the perfect cut and reminds me of Jane Birkin in the 60s/70s, the best period in timeless fashion. And my Donna Ida Cassandra Jumpsuit, love it so much!!!
Caroline wears Cassandra the Flared Jumpsuit in Blackest
If you could design a Donna Ida jean/jumpsuit or ready to wear item what would it be called? We usually name the denim after girls that Ida would like to hang out with, and the name the ready to wear pieces after the way they make you feel.
I would say Lauren, which I actually named one of my SKIIM jumpsuits actually. She’s one of my muses, she represents the elegance, timeless, natural beauty inside and out, charisma, she feels good in her skin and smart. Love her!
Caroline wears Dolly the Flight Suit
What is the first thing you’ll do when you get out?
I have been away from my family as we all live in different countries, so I will go on a flight to see them in Ibiza where my parents live first and then Tuscany to our second home. Miss my family a lot!
We’ll all get back to the airport at some point, when you do, what is the destination that will be on your boarding pass?
Florence and Ibiza.
Before we go, can you share a photo of your lockdown companion/s if you are lucky enough to have some!
We were lucky enough to be in a house in the countryside with our very close friends and children, where we worked everyday with our kids, managed to work in our own businesses. It went really well and our kids had the space to go for a bike ride almost every day. My husband has been my partner in crime, we got so much closer as, we know now, we could achieve anything, we will always be there for each other, no matter what.
Visit Caroline's website SKIIM London.
Follow Caroline on Instagram here | SKIIM London here | RS Stylists here.