We came to the forth and also the last stop on our fashion journey. It’s time to say “Bonjour!” to the gorgeous City of Lights—Paris!
French fashion has had the largest influence over the fashion industry and world trends. Paris has been the leader in fashion since the 18th century when the fashions of the French court were imitated across the Europe.
We cannot talk about French fashion without mentioning designers who revolutionized the way women wear their clothes, and paved the way for many trends and designers of the world. French designers have made women all around the world look stunning, beautiful and sensual in their unique fashion designs.
Christian Dior changed the way women dressed after the Second World War with his well-known “New Look.” Inspired by Belle Epoque, he wanted to bring femininity back into fashion. The “New Look” was exactly that: ultra feminine silhouette with soft shoulders, tiny waist, accentuated bust and full, flowing skirt. This silhouette became synonym of 50s fashion.
Coco Chanel needs no introduction. One of the greatest women in fashion, we have a lot to thank her for! She was the one who brought trousers into women’s wardrobes, jersey—simply, practical and comfortable—and the LBD (Little Black Dress). Before Chanel, black was reserved for funerals and widows. She also introduced pearls, perfume—Chanel No. 5—and, believe it or not, the suntan!
Yves Saint Laurent is another visionary designer who added masculine pieces to women’s wardrobes. He embraced the contrast between masculine and feminine, classic and modern. We owe our suits to this gentleman! He shocked the world with his “Le Smoking” for working women. His designs were daring, new and different.
The influence of these fashion icons is still as strong as ever as the houses they founded remain among the most coveted and respected labels in the world.
Paris Fashion Week
Paris Fashion Week brings each season’s chaotic schedule of international fashion weeks to an end. Every fashion week is different and depends on the city where it takes place: New York features sportswear and is very casual while London highlights young designers who are innovative and always push the boundaries of fashion and trends. Milan exhibits craftsmanship and expert knowledge in tailoring while Paris is all this and more.
Each season, Paris Fashion Week delivers the most amazing collections so people always look for that one collection that will be big the next season and will be the one to remember. It’s hard to achieve the same success of previous seasons while still meeting high expectations, but the Paris crew does not have much to worry about. They consistently out-do themselves with each new season.
The crew is made of the world’s biggest names in the fashion industry: Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Balmain, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Céline, Kenzo, Stella McCartney, Guy Laroche, Anthony Vaccarello, Valentino, Dries Van Note…the list goes on!
Parisian Style
Paris street style is always a sight to be seen. Parisians are known worldwide for their glamorous yet effortless style. They certainly have their share of fashion secrets.
Parisians are true to themselves; they know who they are and they cherish their imperfections. They know their flaws and their good qualities and use this knowledge to inform their fashion choices. While they definitely love fashion, Parisians are not slaves. They remain faithful to classics and do not succumb to short-lived trends. This is what makes their style timeless.
Unlike the Milanese, Parisians are not into brands. You will never see a Parisian wearing flashy logos; they avoid showing brand names on their clothes. It is the same with colors: bold prints and vibrant colors may be fashionable in Milan, but Parisians prefer the simplicity and versatility of black, navy, white and nude.
Instead of colorful clothes, Parisian women choose to focus on interesting shapes and textures. That’s how they keep their outfits wild and interesting without mixing and matching vibrant colors and prints.
Parisians also never underestimate the power of a good accessory whether it’s a statement necklace, jeweled sandals or an oversize scarf. The smallest fashionable detail has the ability to lift an outfit significantly.
Finally, the key to their overall effortless look lies in their preference for being “au naturelle”. The key is balance: if their hair is perfectly coiffed then makeup is minimal; something should always be left undone.
Street Style Trends
Street style in Paris is nothing short of glamorous, but what else would you expect from Paris? Amazing shows brought the biggest editors, buyers, bloggers and A-list stars who tend to save their best outfits for the streets of Paris.
It’s safe to say that Paris Fashion Week attracts the crème de la crème, so it’s no surprise that their runways grab our attention, too. That’s why we’ve rounded up all the best looks from Paris streets for you.
1. Black
“Women who wear black live colorful lives.” Well, this expression certainly rings true with Parisians where black is a staple in any wardrobe. French women always look effortlessly sophisticated and a large part of that is thanks to their preference for black.
2. Black & White
What is black without white? It’s hard to call these two a trend since they literally never go out of style. Maybe it’s not a groundbreaking trend, but this timeless duo can make the perfect outfit and, most importantly, allows you to play with various textures, patterns and silhouettes!
3. Textures
Parisians make up for their lack of color and wild prints by mixing textures freely. It’s not uncommon to find denim, satin, wool, sequins and leather all in one outfit! Combining different textures can be very tricky, but the results are certainly eye-catching.
4. Comme Des Garcons
A tulle skirt is an extremely feminine piece and the first thought that probably comes to mind is to combine it with some elegant top and pumps. But wait: we have a better idea! Why not to play with contrasts by paring this super feminine piece with a strong, masculine one such as a biker jacket with graffiti print on the back? Super chic combo, if you ask us.
5. Nude
Nude is a massive trend this season. Beige shades, clean and fresh, minimalistic but with a tone of glamor. Nude is strong enough to be worn alone in a head-to-toe outfit, and versatile enough to be combined with almost every other color.
6. Metallic
Wrap yourself into precious metals and embrace that shine! This eye-catching statement piece will make your outfit pop in the crowd.
7. Maxi Dresses
Is there anything better and more practical than a floaty, maxi dress? We don’t think so! Perfect for hot summer days and even better for summer nights!
8. Stripes
Another style that will always be in fashion is stripes. This is probably the only print that you’ll see Parisians wear. To make the look even more striking, pair thick and thin stripes or horizontal and vertical to maximize the contrast.
9. Statement Shoes
Italian women may lead in the bag department, but French women are definitely the winners when it comes to shoes. The shoes we saw on the streets of Paris were jaw dropping—even Cinderella would be jealous of this shoes collection!
10. Déjà vu
A lot of trends that we have seen on the streets of New York, London and Milan showed up on the streets of Paris. We couldn’t pass them without showing them to you. We’re sure you would like to see how Parisians worked these trends in their unique way. So, here they are: à la Parisiènne!
Denim…
Knits…
Pant Suit…
Fringe…
Suede…
Army Green…
White…
How did you like our Fashion Week tour? Which street style do you prefer? Sound off in the comments below.
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