What Parisians Are Wearing During Paris Fashion Week
PC: Florré
It’s been a couple of days now since I’ve arrived in Paris. The last few days have been a whirlwind. First, my friend (and former colleague at InStyle) arrived on the same day I did, and we spent three days running around the cobble stone streets from AM to PM together. Then I took a few days to work on content (but also recoup at home), and now I’m enjoying a slow morning in my Parisian Airbnb in the 18th arrondissement, sipping coffee and finally opening up Florré again.
So apologies for the short pause on content. I promise it’s not in vain, though, because I’ve been collecting inspiration on the streets and churning them into ideas. For example, my eyes have been flickering towards the infamously stylish Parisians to see what the locals are wearing. To be fair, it’s Paris fashion week, so the results may be slightly skewed. I’ve eyed a couple of long legged ladies who were definitely on their way back from a casting. But mostly, I’m checking out the sidewalk-coffee-sippers, the shoppers at Le Marais, and the commuters on the 4 line.
At a First Glance
This isn’t my first time doing a long-stay in Paris. It is my first time coming in March, though, and so I’ll say the fashion is distinctly different than that in the summer. I’ve always had this kind of frilly, polka dotted, and loosy-goosy image of Parisian fashion. I like it to an extent, but it was never anything I’d try to emulate. Classic Parisian brands like Rouje, Maje, and Ba&Sh never fully pulled at my heartstrings. But I must say, I’m seeing a bit of change this time around. Maybe it’s the colder season, or maybe this city is also affected by the luxury slowdown and gloomy economic standing, but I’m seeing a lot less color and a whole lot of black, white, and gray.
PC: Florré
The Details
The Parisians make clean cuts look nonchalant. They balance an oversized thrifted leather jacket and baggy jeans with a slicked back bun, edgy sunglasses, and a fitted tank. A feminine collard blouse and ballerinas are offset with boyfriend jeans and, again, a slicked back bun. I get the sense that the Parisians are letting the je ne sais quoi go a little bit, and putting some more intention into their fits.
While in New York I spotted a shift into more fitted outerwear, the Parisians are still rocking that oversized fit. Midi skirts that look like they’ve been handed down generations are also swaying around ankles. Overall, though, it seems this minimalist appeal has resonated with the French, too. But instead of super sleek quiet luxury looks, I’m seeing tops and bottoms pieced together in a more creative and expressive fashion. There’s always a little pop of color or a loud personality piece.
I think the biggest thing that stands out to me with Parisian fashion is that everyone knows exactly what suits them. They wear what they like and it shows in their confidence. Each outfit, albeit not being anything necessarily new, isn’t 100% a part of a trend. The Parisian take inspiration from different areas of life, mix it with their own ideas, and apply it to their fits. It’s refreshing to see, and a solid reminder that fashion is what you make it, not what Tiktok says goes.
