A day in the life of Félix Antoine

Cliquez ici pour le lire en français. It is a cold February morning, and Félix Antoine greets us on the doorstep of his home in Paris’ 11th arrondissement. Based on the couple of boxes strewn across the apartment, we understand he is also welcoming us into his new life: he recently changed jobs and moved into a new flat. He sits down with a freshly-brewed pot of coffee to tell us about his (new) routine.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Félix, I’m 28, and I live in Paris. Last November I started working at AMI, as the brand’s Digital Marketing Coordinator.

What does your job consist in?

There’s a lot of coordination with the London agency which is attached to Farfetch regarding our digital communication. I also have to work on improvements for the website, our newsletters, adwords management, ensuring the product pictures we feature on the site are in compliance with our graphic guidelines... it’s a rather broad range of responsibilities.

You recently changed jobs. You used to work in the music industry before that. What position did you hold?

I worked at French label Because Music and I was in charge of social networks. I would assist the label’s artists in the management of their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. I worked there for three years and was lucky enough to collaborate with successful acts, including Christine & The Queens, Calypso Rose, or Justice. I got to follow them on tour after the release of their latest album, it was an incredible experience!

And what did you do before working at Because Music?

I started with a Degree in Media, Culture, and Communication at Lille’s Institut Catholique, before completing a Master’s Degree in Marketing in the same city. I interned at Surface To Air, a now-defunct brand. When I returned to Lille following this internship, I didn’t really know what to do with myself, and when they offered me a full-time job, I decided to give it a shot and left Lille for Paris. That was five years ago.

Are there any differences in the way the music and fashion industries operate?

There’s a permanent sense of urgency in the music industry. Even when you’re working on long-term strategies, it’s mostly about seizing opportunities. At AMI, we’re selling an entirely different product, and you get the time to think projects through. Also, I think the lifestyle in each industry is vastly different.

How so?

Any job in the music industry entails a lot of nights out and concerts, either by your label’s artists or by artists you’d like to sign. My work days at AMI now are much different, and I get to finish a little earlier. The other difference is that the music industry contributes to the cultural life of millions of people, which isn’t so much the case with the fashion industry. You can’t equate working on a very successful project such as Christine & The Queens’ album, with bumping into someone who’s wearing a sweatshirt by the brand you work for.

And is the cultural dimension something you miss?

Not really. I’m far more interested in the fashion industry than in the music industry. I can very well imagine working in the business for a long time. Never say never, though.

You’ve recently moved in to your new flat. Are you close to your office?

Yes! I need ten minutes at the very most to get to the office, which is located Cour Berard, close to the Place des Vosges, in the Marais area. The proximity to my office is one of the reasons why I chose to stay in the 11th arrondissement when I decided to move. I used to live on Avenue de la République, and I have plenty of friends in the neighbourhood. It just made sense. I make my way to the office on foot or by bike. I always get there by 9:15 or 9:30 at the latest.

Do you make the most of this situation to get up late?

I wake up at approximately 8:00. I like being able to take my time in the morning, and having a nice, slow breakfast. When I get up, the first thing I do is switch on the radio, prepare breakfast, and open the windows to let fresh air in. I can’t properly start the day if I haven’t had a dose of fresh air.

Do you always have the same thing for breakfast?

Yes, every morning I have a coffee, some orange juice, and bread and butter. Then I have a shower, I wash my face with the Horace cleanser, moisturise and get dressed.

You work for a clothing brand. Does this have any impact on what you wear for work?

I don’t systematically wear AMI when I’m working. Except during the fashion shows, obviously. I generally don’t wear heavily branded clothes, but it’s true that I try not to mix AMI items with other brand logos. But it’s more of an understanding with the brand you know, there’s nothing detailed in my contract (laughs)!

Do you spend all day at the office?

Yes. I stay at the office all day until 18:30 or 19:00. We have a big kitchen, and there’s a really good, dynamic atmosphere at work. On rare occasions I’ll go out for lunch, but more often than not we all have lunch together. After work I generally have a couple of drinks with friends at Le Clown Bar or Martin, I keep it local!

I know you play football. Do you mind telling us more about that?

Indeed. I’m now on my third season with Public House FC, and our team plays in the Ballon FC league. Right now I’m still recovering from a torn calf muscle, so I haven’t made my way back to the pitch yet! We’re a real team of friends; it’s more about the beer than the football to be honest. We also travel quite a lot.

You travel to watch games?

Yes, we’ve been all the way up to Manchester, Liverpool, Wigan… We got to see games, we play against local teams, we go on pub crawls, it’s always tonnes of fun.

How does the league work?

On Tuesday nights we train on the Red Star’s (Parisian second division football team) practice grounds or we play 7-a-side matches, depending on weeks. We brought in quite a few new players this year. We’re a fun team but we also have a competitive streak, and we’re definitely trying to do better than last year!

You have one very remarkable feature: you’re ginger. Does this make your skin more sensitive?

Not really. I have pretty normal skin, except when it comes to exposure to the sun, which is very tricky for me. I get sunburnt as soon as I forget to put lotion on. I try to be extra cautious, and if it comes to it, I always have some burn cream close at hand.

You don’t tan at all?

No. I have a very low tanning potential, although I can get tanned more or less easily depending on where I’m spending my holidays.

Does this influence your vacation destinations in any way?

I come from Nice in the South of France, and I visit my family there every summer, but I tend to prefer northern destinations. I sometimes spend a few summer days in Le Touquet (seaside resort in the North of France) and find it easier to tan there than in the South of France. Different kinds of UV rays, I guess.

You see, it’s not that complicated after all! Anything else to add?

My hairdresser just retired, and I’m in desperate need of a replacement if anyone has good recommendations!

You should definitely try la Barbière de Paris, rue Condorcet in the 9th arrondissement.

Photos : Louis Canadas LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

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