IRO Jackets: A Parisian Edge for Everyday

I trust labels started by people who came from somewhere else, and IRO is a good case. Brothers Arik and Laurent Bitton were more at home in music than in fashion when they started it in Paris in 2005, and their years between New York and Paris gave the clothes a French and American point of view. It shows up as rock chic: leather, tweed and denim, worn with a shrug.

I find the story more interesting now that the label has a new creative voice. Nicolas Rohaut, formerly of Paco Rabanne and Dior, became its first artistic director in 2025. The woman I picture in IRO moves around the city on streets, bridges and riverbanks, and I like the mix of polish and looseness: a sharp leather layer can sit beside a soft top without the outfit needing to be explained.

The belts are where I would begin, because they finish a city outfit faster than anything else here. The Embella Gr Belt, Embella SD Belt and Embella Belt come in coffee bean, sand and kiwi, so the choice is really about contrast. I would use the Cuff Belt when an outfit needs a stronger dark line, and the Cuff Suede Belt for a softer, tonal finish.

Picture her leaving the studio in a long blazer, a narrow trouser and one of the Embella belts, then moving the belt over a dress for dinner. Against wide trousers a belt makes the waist look decided. Over a simple dress it changes everything without changing the wardrobe.

The tops make color and cut one decision. The Shanny Top in anchor blue and Naomy Top in azur blue bring the clearest color, while the Daffy Top in tender white and Fenix Top in rinsed black are the crisp anchors. The Encre Top in earthy brown sits somewhere between those moods. I would let one of them carry the look, then add a belt or a leather jacket to tip it toward IRO's rock side.

In my fashion dreams she is crossing the river in the Shanny Top with straight trousers and a belt that defines the waist without turning the outfit into a uniform. What I would skip: layering a color top under a color jacket. Let one of them lead and keep the other quiet.

Outerwear is where IRO's reputation gets tangible. The Zynia Jacket in sea shell is the lighter note, the Shavani Jacket in black is the easy anchor, and the Inja Jacket in earthy brown and Delta Jacket in fig go into deeper shades. The Aqualung Wool & Cashmere Coat, Iloan Denim Jacket and Nicky Wrap Coat round out a very wearable lineup. I would choose one as the lead and keep the top and bag quiet.

Picture a late train home in the Shavani Jacket over a soft top, with a simple leather belt on trousers underneath. On a bright day the Zynia Jacket could go over one of the lighter tops, and nobody would call it a costume.

This last group reads like a weekend bag packed for a city break. The Trecy Dress in black wild print, Utenia Dress in blue left bank stripe and Veddy Dress in raspberry are three different starting points, and I would keep shoes simple when a print or color is already working hard. The Loop SD Bag in sand plays a quieter role than the Lasso Rafia Bag, while the Douzy Short, Fable Short and Eveil Skirt widen the options.

In my Paris daydream, she takes the Utenia Dress and a small bag along the river, then changes into the Fable Short and a simple top for a long lunch. I would decide first whether the day needs a dress, shorts or a skirt, then pick one bag texture to finish it.

IRO works best for me when the clothes feel lived in rather than overthought. The Bitton brothers' French and American starting point still shows in the way the label pairs polish with a little friction: a belt changes a simple look, leather shifts the mood, and a printed dress brings its own energy. I would build from one piece I know I will wear often. Although I suspect it will be the jacket. If you want to keep reading, Everyday Essentials: Coats, Knit Skirts and Cropped Jackets is a good next stop.