Springtime in Paris is famous for a reason. It's when gardens like the Tuileries bloom, when the cafes spill out into the street and when canals like St. Martin sparkle with crisp, cool waters.

The season inspires a joie de vivre that can also be seen in the slightly kooky but sweet clothes of Paul & Joe Sister. Founder Sophie Mechaly's dresses, blouses and skirts cheerily welcome warmer weather with colorful prints, flirty hemlines and unfussy frills. It's the type of casual clothing we imagine Audrey Tatou or Anna Karina impishly skipping around Montparnasse in.
But these '60s-inspired styles have a serious vision and design house behind them. We spoke with Sophie Mechaly, president, founder and designer of Paul & Joe, about her diffusion line, kitten prints, the spirit of the '60s and advice for young women now.

We love the name of this playful, casual line; it brings to mind the sharing of clothes between siblings-a warm tradition when both parties agree on the swap, of course; covert closet raids don't usually go over well. If you could borrow from any person's wardrobe, whose would it be?

I chose "Sister" for my diffusion line as a reference to the little sister of the Paul & Joe woman. This sister is super girly, loves animal prints-kittens, for example, which are omnipresent in my collections-and mixes tastefully boyish looks from the main line with those of a young good girl. Her personality and joie de vivre define her playful style.

If I had had a younger sister, I think I could have borrowed a navy cropped woolen jacket from her, her knit cat sweater and her corduroy jumpsuit.

I'm sure your friends and family would love to raid your wardrobe. What's the one item in your closet that's too precious to lend out?

My shoes! I love shoes-very comfortable and beautifully made. For me, they're as personal as underwear.

Like the other Paul & Joe lines, Paul & Joe Sister feels vintage inspired. Which eras do you look to when creating collections for Paul & Joe Sister?

The 1960s "happy days"-when girls were naive. To me it's a very inspiring period with the appearance of new technologies, the rock 'n' roll music and a more open sexuality. The end of prejudices in terms of the lengths of dresses or skirts, as well as colors. It's a period of limitless expression.

Do you have a favorite fashion era?

The 1960s: Courrèges, Pierre Cardin or YSL are my sources of inspiration. It's the era of French designers. The style is futuristic: skirts get shorter, striped tops appear-the woman's wardrobe is reinvented. YSL, like Coco Chanel, makes smoking acceptable for women and gives a new twist to fashion which still influences today's trends.

How does your hometown of Paris inform your designs?

Paris, capital of fashion! It is a source of inspiration at all levels: the architecture, the ambiance, the French cafes. I particularly love Saint-Germain-des-Prés with its art galleries, its museums and its incredible exhibits such as Jacques Doucet, Yves Saint Laurent or the FIAC, where I can spend hours browsing, looking for new designers. This city amazes me on a daily basis by its effervescence and creativity.

Cat prints (and prints featuring other adorable animals) are a Paul & Joe signature. Is there any critter you haven't used yet that you'd like to put on a print?

I have no limits with prints: wallpapers, old drapes, animals, painters. Depending on my mood, pursuant to an exhibit, a movie I just saw or the colorful flea markets my sons and I love to explore. I love prints that tell a story or refer to a personal experience.

The Paul & Joe Sister approach to fashion is so fun and carefree. Do you apply that philosophy to your personal style? Are there any personal style choices you've made in the past that make you cringe now?

Not at all. I have no regrets! I have always observed what was going on around me. I am always searching for new ideas to avoid boredom. I am motivated by making people happy. If you lose that motivation and stop having fun, it's time to do something else.

What style advice would you give young women today?

A young woman today must know how to adapt fashion to her own style, personality, body shape and character. She shouldn't try and replicate a fashion show's total look, but should draw inspiration from it and create her own allure. And keep smiling because we have so many reasons to do so!

SHOP: Paul & Joe Sister

-Amanda Garberich