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I have finally recovered from, and am reflecting on, another fabulous fashion week in Paris this season! It was full of power dressing, layering, butter yellow, chocolate brown, bralettes, boho and rain! I’m here to report back, taking you through what I wore, where I went, who I saw, and what not to miss if you’re in Paris during fashion week.
The weather this season was well and truly wild. I’ve never been one to let the weather dictate getting dressed, but I did have to take some safety measures. Think less heels, more layers, but still plenty of fun.
I’ve been loving experimenting with layering lately. It adds so much more to the eye and allows for a really unique look. I layered this brown striped Lacoste polo shirt over a preppy blue button down and I love how they look together. Stay tuned for stripes this season, I have a feeling we will see them everywhere! Chocolate brown is truly the colour of the season! Barn jackets too. I swear I had this vintage Burberry dream in my Vestiaire basket before
Of course, I will always have a major denim moment. I’ve been loving the barrel jeans trend, and these Free People dungarees had been on my wishlist for a while. I’ve been living in them since I got them! They’re such a fun twist to an otherwise pretty simple look, and really flattering on a lot of body types too. I paired them with cute vintage kitten heels and a pop of pink, to add a little feminine touch. Ignore the closed eyes – it’s been a long week!
For me it doesn’t matter what season it is, I will never not love an all-pink look! I wore this on the most miserable day of the week (by the way don’t move to Paris for the weather) and it actually made me feel so much better. We are back with the Free People barrel jeans in this pink shade (obsessed), paired with a little pink cardi, a fun tee, my Chanel Mary Janes and my denim pink Gimaguas belt, my favourite accessory I think I have ever bought.
I’ve no idea what season I was dressing for at this stage, but the sun came out for a split second and all I could see was “summer”. I paired these Source Unknown flared shorts with a yellow Remain blazer I’ve had for years, and my favourite shoes of the moment from Cos, that I know I’ll live in this fall! I love the colour combination of the brown and burgundy against the blue, and the yellow too, and will always be an advocate for mixing and matching bright colours no matter the season.
It wouldn’t be fashion week without at least one glam look. But honestly, jeans or jorts and heels is about as glam as I get most of the time! I love pairing heels with an otherwise casual look, there’s just something so effortlessly cool and not try hard about it, even though we are of course trying hard. These Manolo’s are one of my best finds ever, I got them for $140 on The RealReal after going through a phase of rewatching Sex and The City for the (lost count) time. Every girl needs a pair of Manolo’s, they’re an outfit in themselves.
I was lucky enough to attend a number of incredible shows and presentations and visit some amazing showrooms this season, from up-and-coming brands to well-established names, as well as brands I discovered for the first time. But one of the most special moments from my fashion week was the ‘Live from Paris Fashion Week’ event at the Irish Embassy with Ashley McDonnell and Tech Powered Luxury. It was surreal to see so many incredible Irish designers, creators and talents within the four incredible walls of the embassy, showcasing their collections and connecting through fashion. I fell in absolute love with the Aran Knit Hoodie from Colin Burke’s collection, I cannot stop thinking about it!
Adidas hosted a super fun pop-up, which showcased a curated collection of vintage Adidas pieces as well as a workshop where you could pimp your own trainers. The queue was long but the people watching in the queue alone was worth the wait!
At Dawn Paris hosted an ‘End of Summer’ party whilst showcasing some of their fall picks, Paris Paris came together with another favourite Chez Snow Bunny on a fundraising event with drinks and a DJ, and another store based in Amsterdam, Nho Girl, that I have been following but never got a chance to visit popped in the Archivist.
Even if you do not have access to the fabulous shows and the traditional fashion week schedule, fashion week is actually a great time to be a tourist (or act like one) in the city. Along with the chance to catch a glimpse of some stunning celebs, there are always plenty of events, exhibitions and activities that are open to the public. So you can get a taste of the magic too!
Paris is home to the best vintage in the world. I’m not biased, that’s just a fact! And during fashion week, it’s at its very best. Vintage curators from outside of Paris, or those who normally operate online only, come together to do pop-ups and events throughout the city, showcasing the best pre-loved pieces on offer. They bring their fabulous fashion communities together through events or fashion week parties, and this is like a runway in itself! You won’t find a better-dressed crowd.
My forever favourite vintage store in Paris is Bimbo Vintage Club. I always find the most fun pieces here, and am just obsessed with the whole vibe! The store is completely pink so obviously it wins. You can also find the super cool fashion rental company Rent Club Paris here, so it’s my go-to destination for last-minute fashion week ‘fits! Of course, you can be organised and book a fitting well in advance too, but let’s be honest…
Coffee is of course the most essential fuel to get through the week, and this season I visited the cutest pop-up cafe. Bernadette, a mother-daughter designer duo from Antwerp who partnered with Petibon Paris to create Cafe Bernadette for the week. The pop-up had delicious coffee, sweet treats and was surrounded by scrumptious style.
If you want to be a pretend Parisienne or live out your Emily in Paris dream, head to Café de Flore. It is a true institution and doesn’t get much more Paris than this! Prepare for a queue, but if it gets to be too much, you can pop around the corner to Les Deux Magots, an equally historically Parisian spot.
Lunch in Le Marais is a must. Café Charlot is front row for people watching in arguably the chicest part of the city, they even have all of the chairs facing onto the street (obsessed). Le Marais is also home to most of my favourite vintage stores, and cute pop-ups on nearly every corner, so this place is the perfect pit stop.
If that wasn’t enough people-watching in Le Marais, head to La Perle for a glass of vino. Whilst the place itself is not the most glam, it certainly has a pretty glamourous guestlist, and always hosts a huge fashion crowd. John Galliano is even rumoured to have lost his title at Dior at this very bar. Bring cash and low expectations, you won’t be getting 5-star service!
Finally, what is Paris Fashion Week without dinner, drinks and dancing? For a lavish French dinner, opt for L’Avenue. Brasserie Lipp and Lafayettes are other favourites of mine, giving you the same fabulous French feeling with a little more charm. Follow any of these by a cocktail in Hotel Costes, and keep your eyes peeled! The last time I was there Katy Perry was beside us at a ‘Becky’s’ birthday, and Alfie from Emily in Paris apologised for blocking my way down the stairs. Of course, I didn’t freak out, not even for a second… End the night with a dance at Maxim’s, and fall in love with Paris if you haven’t already!