Online fashion entrepreneur Natalie Massenet ‘overwhelmed’ to be made a dame

 

(Photo:prom dresses london)It tops off a year which saw her leave the helm of high fashion website Net-A-Porter after selling it for a reported £70 million.

Massenet, who has dual American-British nationality and has been made a dame as a UK citizen, said: “I am thrilled and completely overwhelmed to be awarded this honour.

“I also feel humbled by it because during my career I have been privileged to have worked with so many brilliant and inspiring people, all of whom have contributed to the success of our fashion industry.”

The former fashion journalist used her style expertise to launch Net-A-Porter from her London flat in 2000, and it has gone from strength to strength, culminating in a merger with Italian rival YOOX earlier this year.

Although she was set to be executive chairwoman of the new company, she made a sudden exit on the eve of the union in September, announcing it was the “right time for me to move on to explore new ideas and opportunities”.

She declined to comment on her future business plans when asked today.

In launching Net-A-Porter, Massenet brought high-end fashion to the internet, something which had not then been done before.

Her concept, a website presented in the style of a magazine, was designed to offer customers across the world the chance to get their hands on the newest looks of the season.

It was a massive hit and Massenet received rapid recognition both within the world of fashion and beyond and was credited by Vogue for “revolutionising the way we buy designer clothes”.

Described as having “the best eye in the business” and knowing “exactly what women want”, she swiftly rose to the highest ranks in fashion circles.

Born in Los Angeles in 1965, Massenet lived in Paris until the age of 11.

When her parents divorced, she returned to America to live with her film publicist father Bob Rooney, while her mother Barbara, a model, remained in France.

As an adult, she forged a career as a stylist and fashion writer, working for a collection of publications including W Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily and Tatler.

But as a fashion journalist, she noticed many readers were unable to find clothes that had featured in magazines.

Alerted to the apparent gap in the market, she hit upon an idea which was to become a multimillion-pound business.

Net-a-Porter.com was launched in June 2000 and by the time of the merger earlier this year it employed more than 2,500 staff in London, New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Massenet was named as one of the 100 most influential people by Time in 2014, and in 2013 she became chairwoman of the British Fashion Council.

Previously an MBE, Massenet is made a dame for services to the fashion and retail industries.Read more at:long prom dresses