My Standard

Episode11

Willemien Bardawil

Illustrator

www.willlemien.com

Born in London in 1994, Willemien is an illustrator based in Paris. She was exposed to art from an early age thanks to her father’s antique shop and her brother’s London gallery. After studying English literature at Oxford University, she worked in visual marketing for the fashion industry but left during the pandemic. Three years into her illustration practice, she’s collaborated with the longstanding British department store Liberty. Willemien regularly sells her work at pop-ups and book cafes.

Parisienne Essentials

I’ve thought a lot about the question of what’s at the heart of my wardrobe. Most of the time, I’ll go straight from working in the studio to an event or a meeting. That’s why my standard wardrobe items need to be both comfortable and stylish. I like how the white cotton shirts from UNIQLO have a finely woven texture and are soft against the skin. Comfortable and easy to wear, they have a basic design that works great in any situation. I never get tired of it. I might wear mine over a T-shirt or under a sweatshirt borrowed from my boyfriend. If I’m heading to a meeting, I can dress it up with a vintage silk scarf. One of my favorite looks recently is accessorizing it with old jewelry that used to be my mother’s.

Here in Paris, I make a lot of visits to the UNIQLO Opéra store. My illustrations may be bright and colorful, but I’m particular when it comes to colors and patterns in clothes. UNIQLO makes it easy, though, with so many options to choose from. One of my favorite discoveries from the Opéra store is this round mini shoulder bag. I use it every day. It’s just right for walks between home and the studio. It’s unbelievable what it can hold my wallet and phone, my sketch pad and brushes, everything I need for jotting down a new idea. It’s been three years since I moved from London to Paris. This city is such an exciting place. Simple clothing is the way to go.

L to R: 2020 Fall & Winter shirt for UNIQLO and JW ANDERSON. Willemien picked it up because she liked the striped front and the pattern of the yoke. The white cotton shirt on the right is from Uniqlo U. Willemien likes it so much that she owns three. Extremely versatile, it works just as well with a tailored jacket as with a pair of jeans. She was drawn to the mini shoulder bag at the bottom right for its café au lait color. It’s since become a daily favorite.

  • Photography by Mari Shimmura
  • Text by Masaé Takanaka
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Release dates vary depending on the product. All listed prices, current as of February 5th, include sales tax and are subject to change.

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