After a few quiet seasons, the international show circuit seemed to be in full swing again with fashion weeks in Paris, Milan, London and New York - and the resulting parade of street style looks that come with it. We’d been less inspired by all of that in recent years, with borrowed samples and over-the-top attention seeking becoming the norm - but we’ve sensed a move away from that this season, as show audiences get smaller and more guests embrace their own personal style and interpretation of designer looks. So as the season comes to a close in Paris, we look at just some of the ensembles outside the shows on the street - and the lessons you can take for your winter wardrobe.
Lesson one: SHOP YOUR WARDROBE
Illustrator and influencer Jenny Walton has a pretty dreamy wardrobe of archival Prada pieces, which she’ll often wear with newer pieces. This Milan Fashion Week look, featuring a coat from Fall 2013, is a reminder to ‘shop’ what you have already. Sure you may not have a wardrobe of vintage Prada (aka the dream), but rewearing and making the most of what you own is always chic.
Lesson two: FRIZZY IS NOT BAD
The idea of ‘good hair’ has always been tied in with very old-fashioned and Eurocentric beauty standards, which has reinforced the idea of smooth being the ideal and frizz being ‘bad’ (read: fine vs. curly and thick). But the delightful brushed out curls of singer and songwriter Ciinderella Balthazar, at London Fashion Week, are proof we’ve moved on from that. Her leather midi skirt and flat boots combo also gets points.
Lesson three: COPY WHATEVER CAROLINE ISSA WEARS
The writer, consultant and director of the publication Tank is a regular on the street style scene, but brings a sense of intelligence and whimsy (!) to her approach. One day she’ll wear a playful printed skirt suit and the next will opt for a perfectly tailored suit, followed by a complicated dress/coat layered option in muted tones. This look in Milan, by Gucci, is your sign to embrace matching sets for winter, ideally in a jolly print.
Lesson four: TRY RETRO SILHOUETTES
If we can learn anything from Andrew Garfield’s ‘70s-inspired, wide-legged Saint Laurent trousers at the SAG Awards last month, and these groovy denim flares by Gucci worn by this sweet boy in Milan, it’s that more men need to embrace vintage pants and silhouettes.
Lesson five: BROWN IS A FASHION COLOUR
It’s one of those colours that you love or hate, but I adore brown and think people should wear more of it. Softer than black, it looks wonderful teamed with bright pinks or purple - or worn layered, like this ensemble from photographer Yanran Xiong in New York, which expertly layers shades of brown and textures. A leather vest worn under a leather jacket with corduroy pants? Yes please.
Lesson six: PULL OUT YOUR FAVOURITE POLO NECK
The striking double denim is the main drawcard here, in a perfect classic blue wash; teamed with a vintage-look gold belt and heavy black boots. But this effortlessly cool Paris Fashion Week look from stylist and director of Rika magazine Alexandra Carl is also your reminder to pull out your favourite black polo neck ahead of winter, and wear it under everything. Comfort, warmth, perfection.
Lesson seven: DRESS UP YOUR TRACKSUIT
Instagram tells me that Mija Knezevic is an “Entrepreneur. Visual Communicator/ Ideas person”, and I like the ideas she is giving off with this outfit at London Fashion Week. The bold yellow tracksuit is by David Koma, and with the floral appliques and vintage-look loafers, it’s both low-key and dressed up.
Lesson eight: ADD SOME CUTE DETAILS
My favourite part of this outfit from New York Fashion Week is not the lemon yellow wrap coat or the Gucci Jackie 1961 bag, but the subtle peek of the playful brown check socks. Details!
Lesson nine: MATCHING SETS
Like Caroline Issa’s skirt, I like the matchy-matchy elements here at London Fashion Week. But the real delight is in these two friends being completely unfazed by being photographed wearing basically the same thing - and also two takes on the same outfit that show the power of personal style and styling, being worn buttoned-up or undone, with simple accessories or more layered.
