Paris Fashion update
May 14th, 2005, 07:16 AM
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Paris Fashion update
Just returned from Paris a week ago, and I *WILL* post a trip report soon, but meanwhile I thought I'd share a few observations for those of you who are interested.
( A disclaimer: I'm not talking haute couture here-- just what we saw people actually wearing.)
The hottest item for women seemed to be the tiered/flounced skirt in lightweight gauzy material. These were in just about every shop window, and we saw lots of people wearing them. Personally, we weren't crazy about them.
<i>My DH's comment was, "This is the sort of look that when people look back at their pictures later they will wonder what on earth they were thinking!"</i>
These were often paired with a little fitted jacket, cotton or linen, often in a sort of military or safari style.
Lots of cowboy boots!- in light colors: tan cream, or pastels.
Also, Indian moccasins were in lots of stores, and we still saw a lot of bright-colored Converse sneakers on young women.
In general, ethnic/ exotic looks seemed to be very popular. Galeries Lafayette was having a "Bollywood" style extravaganza.
Overall, though, the colors are more subdued than what we're used to seeing in the US. Not necessarily black, but a lot of neutrals: beiges, tans, browns, and olive drab. When we did see brighter colors is was most likely to be orange or a chartreuse-ish spring green.
Another thing I noticed was that hardly any Parisian women seem to wear prints. We saw almost NOTHING but solid colors.
Plenty of people of all ages were wearing jeans and sneakers for casual activities and in cafes.
As in any big city, you see a little of everything, and people watching is so much fun!
( A disclaimer: I'm not talking haute couture here-- just what we saw people actually wearing.)
The hottest item for women seemed to be the tiered/flounced skirt in lightweight gauzy material. These were in just about every shop window, and we saw lots of people wearing them. Personally, we weren't crazy about them.
<i>My DH's comment was, "This is the sort of look that when people look back at their pictures later they will wonder what on earth they were thinking!"</i>
These were often paired with a little fitted jacket, cotton or linen, often in a sort of military or safari style.
Lots of cowboy boots!- in light colors: tan cream, or pastels.
Also, Indian moccasins were in lots of stores, and we still saw a lot of bright-colored Converse sneakers on young women.
In general, ethnic/ exotic looks seemed to be very popular. Galeries Lafayette was having a "Bollywood" style extravaganza.
Overall, though, the colors are more subdued than what we're used to seeing in the US. Not necessarily black, but a lot of neutrals: beiges, tans, browns, and olive drab. When we did see brighter colors is was most likely to be orange or a chartreuse-ish spring green.
Another thing I noticed was that hardly any Parisian women seem to wear prints. We saw almost NOTHING but solid colors.
Plenty of people of all ages were wearing jeans and sneakers for casual activities and in cafes.
As in any big city, you see a little of everything, and people watching is so much fun!
May 14th, 2005, 10:56 AM
#4
Welcome back Marcy. It's the same story here, from the inexpensive H&M to Saks, Barney's, NM, the same look is everywhere. Trying to find a simple cream/beige/dress, skirt was impossible.
They had a multi-Italian designer sale in Filene's basement and saw nothing but flashy prints. J. gave me a beautiful Hermé's scarf for our anniversary and wanted to dfind a simple solid dress of quality but no luck.
They had a multi-Italian designer sale in Filene's basement and saw nothing but flashy prints. J. gave me a beautiful Hermé's scarf for our anniversary and wanted to dfind a simple solid dress of quality but no luck.
May 14th, 2005, 11:32 AM
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Ooh, Mimi! What a nice anniversary present! I hope you find just the right thing to wear it with!
jules- We did still see pointed-toed shoes, but there were a fair number of rounded toed ones, too.
jules- We did still see pointed-toed shoes, but there were a fair number of rounded toed ones, too.
May 14th, 2005, 11:36 AM
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Hi, Marcy,
Thanks for your post-I'll look forward to your trip report. My husband & I will be celebrating our anniversary in Paris July 25-29. I'm still looking for a hotel. Where did you stay?
Did you see any capris in the daytime, or is it mostly skirts? What shoes to walk miles & miles...I can't imagine boots in July! I want to look nicer than jeans, but still comfortable and stylish.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks for your post-I'll look forward to your trip report. My husband & I will be celebrating our anniversary in Paris July 25-29. I'm still looking for a hotel. Where did you stay?
Did you see any capris in the daytime, or is it mostly skirts? What shoes to walk miles & miles...I can't imagine boots in July! I want to look nicer than jeans, but still comfortable and stylish.
Thanks in advance.
May 14th, 2005, 11:51 AM
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(1) Remember that French women will often wear pointy-toe shoes, but these ladies are usually not on their feet all day. Even so, pointy-toes can be comfortable with lower heels, and the proper width. Rounded-toes are a newer thing, but again, can still be chic and comfortable if they fit properly.
(2) Cigalechanta -- 'don't kow your age, style preferences and price points, but for a simple beige/cream dress, try:
+ Talbot's CATALOG or website (they have various beiges, taupes, ivories in silks, linens, blends, etc.) in dresses and jacket-dress combiations. Most stores stock the more casual stuff these days, except for the largest outlets.
+ the Emporio Armani sections of better deparment stores (NOT A/X; black label is getting above most comfort ranges
+ Italian makers like Max Mara or Luca Luca (admittedly, pricey like Emporio, but if you are bound-and-determinded)
+ Searle specialty shops
+ Burberry
+ Some of the "business" manufacturers that need to dress career women stylshily but appropriately for client functions: barriepace.com; Brooks Brothers. You'll some prints, but a lot of solid dresses, too.
('Surprised Barney's couldn't help -- maybe they've assumed that everyone is after Pucci or Dolce & Gabanna.)
(2) Cigalechanta -- 'don't kow your age, style preferences and price points, but for a simple beige/cream dress, try:
+ Talbot's CATALOG or website (they have various beiges, taupes, ivories in silks, linens, blends, etc.) in dresses and jacket-dress combiations. Most stores stock the more casual stuff these days, except for the largest outlets.
+ the Emporio Armani sections of better deparment stores (NOT A/X; black label is getting above most comfort ranges
+ Italian makers like Max Mara or Luca Luca (admittedly, pricey like Emporio, but if you are bound-and-determinded)
+ Searle specialty shops
+ Burberry
+ Some of the "business" manufacturers that need to dress career women stylshily but appropriately for client functions: barriepace.com; Brooks Brothers. You'll some prints, but a lot of solid dresses, too.
('Surprised Barney's couldn't help -- maybe they've assumed that everyone is after Pucci or Dolce & Gabanna.)
May 14th, 2005, 12:04 PM
#8
I don't like any of the one's you mentioned. But I appreciate it.
I wear mostly French and Belguim only because I'm short waisted and they seem to fit better and I can find natural fabrics. For travel, I like cotton, linen, knits and nylon blends.
I wear mostly French and Belguim only because I'm short waisted and they seem to fit better and I can find natural fabrics. For travel, I like cotton, linen, knits and nylon blends.
May 14th, 2005, 12:05 PM
#9
Hi Marcy, Welcome home! I guess if you can wear ethnic/exotic clothes as well as subdued, neutral colors you can't go wrong. Looking forward to your impressions of Paris. Actually, I've still been wondering how your previous trip went, how the apartment worked out, whether everybody was well enough to enjoy it.
May 14th, 2005, 04:03 PM
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Marcy:
While Paris may be extremely fashion consious, in some cases they do go overboard mixing styles, while I no way would I consider myself to have any sense of fashion, I still laugh when I recall the salesman I saw at Galeries Lafayette last month - blue sports coat-yellow golf shirt-military capris-white cowboy boots.
While Paris may be extremely fashion consious, in some cases they do go overboard mixing styles, while I no way would I consider myself to have any sense of fashion, I still laugh when I recall the salesman I saw at Galeries Lafayette last month - blue sports coat-yellow golf shirt-military capris-white cowboy boots.
May 14th, 2005, 04:11 PM
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I have to ask--what are "military capris"? Were they a camouflage pattern, or was there something else that gave them that "I-may-be-in-the-armed-services-but-that-doesn't-mean-I-can't-show-off-my-shapely-calves" look?
May 14th, 2005, 06:24 PM
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We leave in 9 days and I was thinking of taking a new filmy black skirt--sort of swishy ballerina style with stitched down pleats which looks pretty with v-neck long sleeve or silk tank and short jacket--may just take it if you don't think it is too done up for the current look. Didn't hear a yea or nay on capris--wore them all the time last year but we spent our whole time in the Dordogne--r u seeing them lots in Paris?
Also, any particular art shows you really enjoyed. St. Cirq--what was the name of that what where when web site you mentioned some time ago--it was super but I seem to have lost the link to it. Many thanks to all.
Take care,
Robyn France
Also, any particular art shows you really enjoyed. St. Cirq--what was the name of that what where when web site you mentioned some time ago--it was super but I seem to have lost the link to it. Many thanks to all.
Take care,
Robyn France
May 14th, 2005, 06:52 PM
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May 14th, 2005, 07:07 PM
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Hot pink Converse sneakers were in the windows last year in Paris. Saw a tourist at an ATM wearing them with shorts. She looked like a fool (IMHO).
I felt comfortable in Provence and Riveria in capris but would not have felt comfortable enough in Paris...unless I happened to be there in a heat wave. Just my comfort zone, I guess.
Didn't notice until I looked at my pictures recently, but the photo with the most folks wearing blue jeans and white sneakers was of older local men playing boules in a park in Paris.
I felt comfortable in Provence and Riveria in capris but would not have felt comfortable enough in Paris...unless I happened to be there in a heat wave. Just my comfort zone, I guess.
Didn't notice until I looked at my pictures recently, but the photo with the most folks wearing blue jeans and white sneakers was of older local men playing boules in a park in Paris.
May 14th, 2005, 09:47 PM
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cybertraveler- We did see some capris/cropped pants, but not as many as here. On the other hand, it was pretty cold a lot of the time when we were there. You might see a lot more in July.
I don't think there's any problem with cropped pants being appropriate, though, so if you're comfortable in them, go right ahead!
We stayed at the Bonaparte, which is pretty bare-bones for a honeymoon. We like it because the location is great, the price is right, and the people are nice, but I would stay someplace a little more romantic for your honeymoon.
I've stayed a couple of times (once for an anniversary) at the Relais St. Germain and liked it a lot. Or the Madison is nice. Of course, I have no idea what your budget is.
What shoes to take is always the hardest thing to figure out! I'm on a perennial quest for some sort of shoe that is wonderfully fashionable but that I can walk for miles in.
Right now the best compromise I've found is ballet flats for warm weather and a low-to-medium heel ankle boot for winter.
Guys have it so much easier!
RobynFrance- your skirt outfit sounds perfect!
Nikki- I'll tell you all about the last trip. It was a bit of a disaster, but the apartment was nice. Try emailing me again- your last email never did come through for some reason.
I don't think there's any problem with cropped pants being appropriate, though, so if you're comfortable in them, go right ahead!
We stayed at the Bonaparte, which is pretty bare-bones for a honeymoon. We like it because the location is great, the price is right, and the people are nice, but I would stay someplace a little more romantic for your honeymoon.
I've stayed a couple of times (once for an anniversary) at the Relais St. Germain and liked it a lot. Or the Madison is nice. Of course, I have no idea what your budget is.
What shoes to take is always the hardest thing to figure out! I'm on a perennial quest for some sort of shoe that is wonderfully fashionable but that I can walk for miles in.
Right now the best compromise I've found is ballet flats for warm weather and a low-to-medium heel ankle boot for winter.
Guys have it so much easier!
RobynFrance- your skirt outfit sounds perfect!
Nikki- I'll tell you all about the last trip. It was a bit of a disaster, but the apartment was nice. Try emailing me again- your last email never did come through for some reason.
