Masterclass by Mathieu Gugumus-Leguillon

The Bungalow's designer shares 10 tips on snagging effortless personal style

By ELLE team December 2nd, 2014

Narciso Rodriguez

Simplicity is key to sophistication.

Try black with white or layer different shades of the same colour. Avoid clutter and unnecessary detail.

Abraham & Thakore

Adopt androgyny.

Pick a tank top, pair it with pleated tuxedo pants, throw on an unstructured blazer and top it all with brogues.

péro by Aneeth Arora

No one said you should avoid comfort.

Wear natural fabrics that breathe.

Theory

A shirtdress works from brunch to cocktails.

This is one of the most flattering silhouettes for Indian women. It's extremely agreeable for any place, at any time. Wear it loose or cinch it at the waist with a belt.

Hermès

Embrace volume.

Suggest the beauty of your curves rather than exposing them.

Urvashi Kaur

Layer, layer, layer.

Opt for sheer, light fabrics for a sexy edge.

Emporio Armani

Always dress with confidence.

A black jumpsuit is a great place to start. The plain canvas opens itself to bold accessorising.

Comme des Garçons

Find an icon.

Never mimic, but find a source of inspiration that speaks to you. I really admire Rei Kawakubo: her style is totally personal and mixes curiosity, intuition and sophistication.

Mathieu Gugumus-Leguillon

Coming with a distinctly Parisian background (design stints at YSL and Lanvin), Gugumus-Leguillon charmed the global customer of Bungalow 8 with his Indophile leanings and loungy silhouettes at The Bungalow – a cultural mix that is often reflected in his personal style.

Click through to pick up some pointers on how to nail an easy, well-travelled aesthetic.

Photograph: Shivam Misra