Chanel Muse Ordered to Take Down Building in Provence

Born in Gassin in the Var region of France, Inès de La Fressange was not only a model, fashion designer and perfumer, but was also one of Karl Lagerfeld's favourite models for Chanel.

Throughout most of the 1980's she was Lagerfeld's muse. Now in 2015 she lives in a secluded villa, near to Tarascon on the outskirts of the beautiful nature park of the Alpilles. She recently added a 1,100 sq ft house to her estate which was intended as a storeroom next to her swimming pool. The 58-year-old French former model has now been ordered to demolish the luxury building as it sits on a nature protected hill and was constructed without planning permission.

Local residents contested that the building was actually intended for guests at the parties she is said to host at her secluded villa encircled by 22 acres of grounds, and not in fact as a store room. In July the Tarascon court ordered her to demolish the house or face a fine of €300 for ‘each day of delay’. The judge warned that the construction would cause ‘serious environmental damage’. After appealing the decision at the Court of Appeal in Aix-en-Provence, de La Fressange has now lost, and the building which was nearing completion must be demolished.