COCO and CHRISTINE
An immense bond between mother and daughter, matriarch Christine Arnoult and her daughter Constance “Coco” Arnoult discuss family, fashion and their relationship on and off social media.
Christine Arnoult, left, and her daughter Constance “Coco” Arnoult
In America, we have no shortage of reality royal families, like the thirteen-year reign of the Kardashian clan; so we decided to look to Paris and came across mother, daughter duo – Christine and Constance Arnoult – taking the Parisian fashion scene by storm…together. No surprise the camera adores them, but we had to know, behind social media, what are the mother and daughter like in real life? It all becomes pretty apparent within minutes. Regardless of whoever is really in charge when it comes to their charm in fashion, what is abundantly clear is the amazing bond between this mother and her daughter. So the matching initials must be an intended decision? “Not at all,” laughed fair-faced Christine. “Is it pure coincidence or maybe the sign of an immense bond that is found even in our initials ... who knows?”
The beautiful Coco is a former ballet dancer, art lover, French model, and a need-to-know influencer. The stunning Christine is a working mom and wife by day, but her passion for fashion and the coveted bond with her daughter has led to a flourishing dynamic duo booking mother-daughter campaigns in the industry they both adore. “We are lucky to have a very special relationship. We are very similar in so many ways, and we are always so happy to share those memories,” heartened Constance. Agreeing, “working with Coco is always fun and thrilling. Because we have very busy schedules in our day to day lives, we do not have time to see each other often. So it is a great mother/daughter bonding time, complicity and laughs are guaranteed,” chimed Christine.
Turning to Constance, we were eager to learn more about life as a former ballet dancer. A deliberate and dedicated passion with integral notes and nuances of fashion displayed through detailed and decisive costuming, a career in fashion seems like a natural path. Although not one foreseen by young Constance. “I didn’t plan to work in the fashion industry. The main part of my life has been dedicated to ballet. I used to practice 14 hours a week and the plan was to become professional. Nevertheless, I’ve always been fascinated by the fashion universe: I see it as another stage to express myself. As an influencer, I would be delighted to promote culture in general, to incite people to take time to dive into a book, an exhibition, or a ballet,” shared the blonde beauty. Not the first little girl to dream of the sought-after title “ballerina”, it is the visual draw to tell a story that intrigued Coco. “When I go to the Paris opera house, I love how ballet dancers are complete artists. I’m always mesmerized by their ability to be storytellers through movement, amazing technique, and emotion,” shared the dancer. Now fully exposed to the industry of fashion through modeling and her unconventional path as a modern-day influencer, Constance expressed the necessary role fashion plays in true performance. “Fashion and ballet often work together as you can see during the Paris opera house opening gala. Costumes this year were designed by Chanel. It’s a real challenge for designers to adapt their creations to the needs of the performers.”
Since moving to Paris Constance notes the evolvement of her style, easily summarized as “less is more”. With that classic, fresh-faced and pure beauty of a no-makeup-makeup look - a noted signature of the classic European woman - both Arnoult girls gravitate to minimal and effortless styles in their glamour and their couture. “Back in the days, I was wearing more sophisticated clothes,” shared Constance, “so maybe my style is more simple and more efficient now [that I live in Paris.] I try to keep a chic and elegant style, but I especially try to wear outfits in which I am comfortable. To do this, you have to give the impression that you didn’t think too much about what you are wearing. I am quite petite, so I like playing with volumes and lengths: a beautiful high-waisted pant, a padded-shoulder blazer that is properly structured and well-cut; or for a dressier outfit: a very long dress with high heels and a pretty waistband to highlight the waist.” With a few extra years to discover her go-to style and earned the right to power dress like the boss babe she is, Christine is keeping the 70’s alive with flared pants and heeled boots. “I have been a fan of [a flare pant] for years. I wear these flares with heeled boots, a blouse or a big sweater. I also like structured dresses which enhance the silhouette a lot! My favorite outfit is a black Yves Saint-Laurent pantsuit that I had the chance to wear thanks to ‘a dress for an evening’ in which I felt both beautiful and perfectly comfortable.
So what brought these two leading ladies to the center stage together? “That just happened naturally after the French brand FRAICHE asked us to make our first campaign together. That probably just strengthened our relationship even more!” beamed Coco. “I was excited by the idea of shooting with my daughter,” chimed Christine. “Something is fascinating when you can work in front of the camera with your daughter. I did some modeling jobs when I was younger, but never in such of fashion and such a big project. It was a real pleasure and when we have the opportunity to work on collaborative projects, we do not hesitate.” The key to their success as a mother and daughter team, they are passionate about their adoration for fashion.
The mother of not just one, but two beautiful girls striving in their respected fields, Christine was proud to share her admiration of both young ladies as we reminisced the end of a decade. “What I’m most proud of is my family. My adorable husband and my two daughters: Constance, but also Victoire who is studying law. She is a humanist and also an adventurer at heart. She will put all her energy and strength at the service of others. It’s always an immense joy to be all together.” With the chance to be surrounded by an array of creators, friends and family alike, Constance has much to be thankful for and showed genuine gratitude for the unconventional life she is cultivating. “I’m deeply grateful for this every single day, I’ll never take this for granted, and I’ll continue to work hard to make this perennial. I’m aware that the fashion industry and social media are always evolving so fast, and I’m really happy that people are appreciating the content I’m producing. I have the chance to be surrounded by amazing people, especially by my parents, who are keeping me grounded and who raised me with great values. They taught me to put goodwill, empathy, and determination in all the projects I am part of. For this new year, I would like to challenge and push myself to take risks and to develop my projects.”
It’s a rare situation when members of the same family find themselves in the same position. Collaborating in an industry they both love, it is evident that that is what keeps them grounded - the love and support. A united front, let’s just say we cannot wait to see what the lovely Arnoult ladies have in store. New adventures? They hope! Or maybe a very special project with an iconic French store. “We can’t tell you more,” teased Coco and Christine.
