What a fashion writer wears to Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week is truly the pinnacle of all fashion weeks. It’s almost like the Cannes Film Festival, with celebrities, security and chaos everywhere you go. But the style is absolutely unmatched. With Paris being home to some of the biggest fashion houses in the world, along with many of the world’s most noteworthy designers showing here, the street style alone is like a runway. From extravagant outfits to edgy laid-back looks, you can find it all – so how the hell does one know what to wear? 

I used to relish being the one who was always overdressed. I still do back that being overdressed is always better than being underdressed for an occasion! But I really think there is so much more to be said about being comfortable, authentic and dressing for you. There is no feeling quite like feeling good in your outfit, inside and out. The confidence that brings can be the best part of the outfit – I truly believe that. It shines through and completely elevates the look. 

For me, fashion ultimately boils down to expressing yourself. Fashion is definitely my love language and how I communicate with the world. Anyone who knows me will agree that my personality really comes through in everything I wear. I don’t know how this makes sense but it just does! And this is my favourite thing about style. Trends will come and go, but authentic style where you are truly dressing for yourself will never go out of fashion. 

These are the words I live by and (…shameless plug incoming!) this is what I will be telling all of my clients once my styling service, @karamademedoit, goes live in the coming weeks. If you are struggling to find your personal style, are looking to spice up your looks or are simply looking to have more fun with fashion, I am launching an online styling service to solve these exact problems for you. All whilst bringing your personality out in what you wear.

But before I get side-tracked, let me take you through some of my looks for the week… 

MONDAY

I was going for Sporty Spice meets Paris Hilton circa 2001 with this look. I think all I’m missing is a chihuahua! It was comfy and cool, which is the best combo. I know I will live in these trackies day-to-day, but I thought it would be fun to dress them up for Fashion Week. I paired them with my little vintage Burberry kitten heels I found on Depop, the Chanel handbag of my dreams loaned from Designer Exchange in Dublin (guys, how am I meant to give this back, I just can’t do it!), a cute pair of Miu Miu sunnies and a Lacoste pink zip-up knit, both from Vinted.

I am a worshipper of preloved and vintage pieces. I would say about 80% of my wardrobe I have sourced on sites like Vestiaire, Vinted and Depop. I really love the fact that the chances someone else will have the same piece or be wearing the same outfit is next to none – making the look truly unique to you.

TUESDAY

Another sporty look, I swear I didn’t do this on purpose! I really love pairing unexpected and unconventional pieces together – pieces that you may not think would work well, but end up creating an interesting and unique look. Almost like opposites attract I guess. So I paired this adidas rugby sweatshirt (another Vinted find) and my trusty denim jorts with my most prized, Parisian and perfect possession: my Chanel Mary Janes (crying face emoji). The sophisticated and quaint little shoes paired with the more masculine outfit make for a nice contrast, tied together with a classic LV Speedy, another incredible loan from Designer Exchange. This bag couldn’t have been better with the outfit as it had cute blue and yellow stickers on it – perfect to match the sweatshirt. Remember, coordination is key.

WEDNESDAY

A more sophisticated and classic look today, I opted for a simple but timeless shirt, jeans and heels combo. Did I regret wearing just the shirt in five-degree weather? Absolutely. Are you able to tell from the pictures? Absolutely not! I love this shirt from Paris-based brand Attire the Studio, launched by fashion influencer Xenia Adonts. This brand is all about sustainability, transparency and quality, and this 100% organic cotton shirt has been a staple in my wardrobe since I bought it in 2021. I absolutely adore the contrast of the collar and cuffs. The heels are denim Chanel purchased from a vintage store in Copenhagen, and honestly, they were a steal. And the bag, a brown leather Blumarine baby from Vinted with denim patches, fitted in seamlessly with all of the little denim details of the outfit. The more sophisticated outfit felt fitting against the breathtaking setting of the Irish Embassy, where Irish Designer Róisín Pierce showed her heavenly collection. It was beyond beautiful with the most incredible craftsmanship and insanely intricate details, showcased in the lace, satin and organza pieces. 

THURSDAY

Comfort was really key at this point, as we are now in survival mode! Whilst I was not feeling the cutest on the inside after a crazy first few days (guilty of lots of cheese, vino and croissant consumption – oops!) we still had to look cute on the outside. I opted for baggy jeans, a thrifted camouflage bomber (camo is back, you heard it here first!) and denim Timberlands boots for an easy breezy/casual cool look. The primarily denim outfit (yes, I am weirdly attracted to denim) was perfect to match the backdrop of the latest Ksenia Schnaider collection. I honestly think I may have met my denim-loving match here. The Ukrainian designer, along with her husband, has created collections based mainly on denim, using patchwork, upcycling and reworking in fun and unexpected ways. The brand showcased a pair of light blue jeans with massive cats on them in this latest collection, and suddenly I need a pair of light blue jeans with massive cats on them!

FRIDAY

Finally, it was, of course, important, and an honour to represent some Irish designers at Paris Fashion Week. I am back on my sporty spice buzz with this Pellador FC jersey. I am obsessed with the bright yellow and green colours which caught lots of eyes. I genuinely got so many compliments on this super fun piece. I dressed the jersey up with some sparkly heels from the Attico and kept it edgy with a pair of thrifted men’s cargo shorts and an oversized bright green Remain bomber that I’ve had for years. 

My looks were definitely a mix of dressed up and dressed down. Nothing too crazy or out of this world extravagant that you might find at fashion week, but again all of these outfits felt very true to me, they were fun, and I felt confident in them. This is truly the key to styling.

I hope you have enjoyed spending time with me this Paris Fashion Week, thank you (and DS Automobiles Ireland) so much for coming along for the ride.

Photography @karaosullivan