The collaboration between pastry chef Nina Métayer and Maison Lafont has given birth to two iconic jackets, the “signature” jacket and the “couture” jacket: tailor-made pieces combining elegance, practicality and respect for the codes of the culinary profession. These creations are much more than simple professional clothing; they embody rigor, femininity and French artisanal know-how. A look back at the creation process of these exceptional jackets, from the initial sketch to the final product, ready to be worn.
Step 1 - Understand and Get Inspired: Developing Style Boards
The project begins with a precise and ambitious request from Nina Métayer: to create a jacket that reflects her status as a business leader while asserting her identity in a predominantly masculine world. She wanted a piece that was elegant, feminine and practical, inspired by the codes of haute couture, while retaining a strong statutory and symbolic dimension.
A challenge in demand
Nina’s vision carries a duality. On the one hand, she aspires to a jacket that embodies her role as a leader, a piece she describes as a “uniform” that marks her authority and respect as a team leader. This idea is deeply rooted in her personal history: the image of the culinary chef who, by donning the white jacket, becomes a figure of respect and excellence, has marked her journey since her early apprenticeship. The white jacket is therefore also a tribute to these inspiring figures who have passed on to her the passion for her profession.
On the other hand, Nina wanted a jacket that would express her femininity in a traditionally masculine environment. This desire to combine the chic and fitted look of a feminine model with the statutory and quasi-military rigor of a uniform guided the creation of both jackets.
Inspiration board and needs analysis
Anne-Sophie, a stylist at Lafont, was able to translate this contrasting vision into images and sketches. She designed two detailed inspiration boards, highlighting Nina's world and her expectations. Keywords such as Institutional, Hierarchical, Fitted, Detail, Fashion, Femininity, Tradition and Statutory structured her work. The proposed models integrate elements such as pleats, floral embroidery and bucolic textures, adding relief and personality to the creations.
Presentation and selection of models
After validation of the style boards, four jacket proposals were presented to Nina. Among these, two models were selected. These jackets embody the perfect synthesis between statutory authority and feminine elegance, thus meeting the challenge of the initial request.
Step 2 - Choosing the materials
The choice of materials was crucial to meet Nina's requirements, who wanted a multi-season, breathable and comfortable jacket. After exploring several options, the selected fabric combines organic cotton and recycled polyester incorporating 37.5 ® technology . This material is renowned for its breathability, optimal comfort over long working days, and its ability to improve the body's natural cooling mechanism.
Made entirely in France , this fabric illustrates a deep respect for local know-how. In addition, Nina already knew its qualities perfectly, since it is used in the making of the CANOPÉE Femme jacket , which she appreciates on a daily basis.
Step 3 - Modeling: Bringing Ideas to Life
The modeling work, entrusted to Maryline, a pattern expert at Lafont, made it possible to transform the sketches into concrete creations. From the drawings, Maryline developed the patterns, while Francine, a prototypist, carried out the first tests by assembling the initial pieces. Elements such as the sleeves, collars, shoulder pads, braiding, and other specific details were tested in study pieces to validate their feasibility.
Making a canvas
For each jacket, Maryline and Francine made a toile, a draft made in a standard fabric, intended to evaluate the volumes. However, to guarantee an accurate rendering, they quickly opted for tests directly in the final fabric. This approach made it possible to validate the fluidity, the drape and the exact proportions of the models.
Careful fittings and adjustments
The first versions were presented and tested by Nina directly in her laboratory in Paris. These tests allowed precise adjustments to be made:
- Refinement of the curve to accentuate femininity.
- Increased build for greater comfort and mobility.
- Specific adaptations thanks to meticulous work of pinning, measurements, and adjustments.
The alterations were then integrated into the final material, with the supplies and the final measurements. The prototypes thus finalized were subject to a new fitting by Nina, this time in the Lafont premises in Gleizé.
Step 4 - Creating the Final Jackets
First jacket: The Signature Jacket
Designed to be worn both on stage and in the kitchen, this jacket embodies the perfect balance between elegance and practicality. It features a fitted cut, subtle details and a resolutely feminine line, while remaining functional.
- Fitted cut : An elegant and feminine silhouette while maintaining great ease of movement.
- Braided detail on the sleeves : A nod to culinary craftsmanship, reminiscent of the braiding of a brioche or an ear of wheat.
- Shoulder braiding : Evokes traditional epaulettes, bringing a touch of rigor, almost military.
- Tailcoat at the back : A uniform-inspired detail, adding a statutory and structured dimension to the jacket.
- Functional design : Combines practicality and comfort, perfectly suited to the work environment while remaining elegant for formal occasions.
This Signature jacket represents a successful fusion between the authority of a uniform and the delicacy of a piece of feminine wardrobe.
Second jacket: The Couture Jacket
This jacket stands out for its bold style and refined details:
- Floral embroidery : Made with thick thread which provides a raised texture and a remarkable visual effect
- Logo integrated into a foliage pattern : Inspired by the art of pastry dressing, this subtle pattern integrates the logo of its pastry shop for a personal and scrolling touch.
- Couture and feminine cut: Elegant lines and details borrowed from the traditional uniform, enhanced by a touch of grace and modernity.
- Signature embroidery on the wrist : A distinctive and refined mark on a wrist with an original design.
- Tailcoat : A delicate reminder of the codes of the classic uniform.
A harmonious challenge
These two creations perfectly translate the subtle contrast between the statutory rigor of a team leader and the graceful finesse of a female model. They embody authority, tradition and modern elegance at the same time.
Step 5: Finalization and Marketing
The Lafont team industrialized one of the two custom jackets created for Nina, the Signature jacket, by adapting artisanal sewing techniques to mass production. Every detail, from the seams to the braiding on the shoulders, was carefully studied to ensure both durability and aesthetics.
Pre-order availability:
The Nina jacket will be available for pre-order from January 26, 2025.
Exclusive co-branding:
- Woven labels and vignettes : The partnership between Lafont and Nina Métayer is highlighted through careful and distinctive marking.
- Online pre-order : The Nina jacket can be ordered on the websites delicatisserie.com and a-lafont.com from January 26.
A Collaboration in the Service of Excellence
These jackets embody the essence of the partnership between Lafont and Nina Métayer : an alliance between the tradition of professional clothing and stylistic innovation. More than a uniform, they symbolize the excellence, femininity and passion that drive each female chef, behind the stove as well as on stage.