NYFW vs. PWF

New York and Paris hold their own in fashion, greatly influenced by their cultures. Trends are often influenced by a cultures history and previous lifestyles which held true for New York Fashion week. Runway shows are a performance, often putting together outlandish looks that are unpractical for the typical fashion loving street walker.  Every fashion week I take more note on the attendees, because they turn high fashion looks into something wearable.

NYFW Street Style: While many New Yorkers and fashion week tourists are pushing the boundaries with new looks, they all stay true to the New York Style. Classic black remains a staple, as well as jumpsuits and colorful patterns.  In general, the spring looks are playful and fresh. 

PFW Street Style:  Like New York, Black is the most consistent trend that will continue to be reinvented every season. Throughout the years color has been gradually added to "La Parisienne's" wardrobe. For spring 2014, designers are adding pops of color and geometric inspired shapes. A common trend seen on many street walkers are structured-edgy shaped clothing. Bright colored pattern pants seem to be a common trend between PFW and NYFW.

- Jamie

The All-American Girl's Perspective on Paris Fashion Week

After sending about a million emails, this lucky All-American girl had the opportunity to attend some Paris Fashion Week runway shows and parties.

What Caught an American Girl's Eye

Black on Black on Black.

Of course the presence of overwhelming black at PFW was not a surprise, black is fashionable. Paris is fashionable. PFW is black. Its presence on and off the runways was nevertheless chic and effortless at the same time. However, because this was SS14, the amount of black viewed on the runway was still somewhat surprising, for Yang Li in particular who showed only monotone looks, in comparison with Aganovich's light pinks and pastels as well as brights and neons from designers at Pre-Helsinki, Manish Arora, Issey Miyake, and Ground Zero.

Black at Yang Li

Black at Yang Li

Black & Sneakers outside Yang Li

Black outside Yang Li

Black outside Hexa by Kuho

Black before Hexa by Kuho

Black at Pre-Helsinki

Color

Despite it being collections for next spring and summer, this American girl was surprised to see the overwhelming amount of bright colors at Paris Fashion Week this year - on the models and the attendees. However, while the designers had outfit after outfit filled with bright colors, attendees were more reserved and instead wore one or two accent pieces of color - however, this distinction may be attributed to the fact that it is fall here in Paris but summer on the runways. According to the runways, SS14 looks like it will be filled with bright pinks, yellows, and rich blues.

Color outside Issey Miyake

Color at Ground Zero
Image courtesy of Ground Zero

Color at Ground Zero
Image courtesy of Ground Zero

Color at Ground Zero
Image courtesy of Ground Zero

Color at Manish Arora
Image courtesy of Manish Arora

Color at Manish Arora
Image courtesy of Manish Arora

Color at Manish Arora
Image courtesy of Manish Arora

Color at Hexa by Kuho

Color at Hexa by Kuho

Color at Hexa by Kuho

Color at Pre-Helsinki

Flats & Sneakers

Now not to say that heels were not seen during fashion week, but it was almost as if flats were chicer than heels, which I do not believe would ever happen in LA or New York. Attendees were rocking booties, oxfords, and almost overwhelmingly, sneakers. Not to mention the booties at Aganovich and Vans sneakers at Yang Li. All of these sneaks are beginning to make be think the Converse shoes ads in the Paris metros may be right...

Flats outside Issey Miyake

Flats & Sneakers outside Yang Li

Sneakers outside Yang Li

Sneakers, Sweats & Black outside Pre-Helsinki
This man's shirt is also reminiscent of the plaid we noticed in Paris last week.

Sneakers at Yang Li

Sneakers at Yang Li

Sneakers outside of Hexa by Kuho

Chucks Sneakers after Hexa by Kuho

 

Flat booties at Aganovich

The Sweats Trend

I've got to say, I expected the sweats trend to last a season in NYC and be completely out of style - not running to shows at Paris Fashion Week paired with chic skirts or designer pants. From Acne to Sasu Kauppi, designers are creating beautiful designer sweatshirts and pants that attendees are rocking at fashion week.

Sweatshirts at Pre-Helsinki

Sweatshirt at Acne Studios Party

Sweatshirt, black & sneakers outside Issey Miyake

Sweatshirt before Hexa by Kuho

While there will always be more to say about Paris Fashion Week, these were the details on and off the runway an American eye noticed as totally what she expected, or totally the opposite.

à bientôt,

xx taylor

Read more of Taylor's adventures in Paris on her blog, A Marketing Major.

Plaid in Paris

Parisian women attend Paris Fashion Week in different variations of black outfits.

You've decided to move to Paris to study abroad for a semester. What do you pack? If people were to tell you there was a uniform for Paris, what would they say? A little black dress? Black leggings, black blouse, black blazer, black shoes? Basically, you'd hear a lot about black on black on black. Would anyone mention plaid?

Well, if you decided to move to my university to study, the first thing I would tell you to bring is flannel, and lots of it. If our school had an unspoken uniform, flannel and jeans would be it. My school at home is located on the top of Lookout Mountain in North Georgia, and a good mountain wardrobe includes hiking boots, puffy coats, beanies, big knit scarves, and plaid on plaid on plaid.

These girls are friends from school. And no, they did not plan to match.

Therefore, seeing plaid makes me feel at home. I have been pleasantly surprised with the amount of plaid I have seen all around Paris. Usually this consists of a flannel tied around someone's waist, as more of an accessory. It is also very clearly unevenly worn by a much younger crowd. However, I have seen some people of all ages pull off plaid in new, innovative ways that make me excited to bring a new twist to plaid at home. 

I have seen plaid handbags, such as this one from Ralph Lauren:

This man in the subway wore these plaid pants:

These and so many more examples exist and can be seen throughout Paris.

Like I said, seeing plaid makes me feel at home. As an American girl studying abroad in Paris, I obviously appreciate the class and style that can be evoked with black pieces. However, as an all-American girl with fairly all-American taste, I will always appreciate flannel.

That's all for now. I'll try to add more pictures to this post as I see more examples of plaid-clad Parisians during my time here. For now, I'm going to bed:

My bed here in Paris is decked out in plaid.

Bye for now!

Zoë