Paris: And its style

When we think of paris, we think haute couture, stylish women dressed head to toe in fashion trends, high heals..Moulin Rouge,ballets, musicals and operas.

Paris, it is here that fashion extends through vast history and milestones. It is the home of luxury from its magnificent palaces, elegant boulevards, and romantic neighborhoods to Parisian couturiers like Pierre Cardin, Courrege, Coco Chanel, Dior, YSL, Lanvin, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louboutin and many more.

Christian Dior’s style   :   Coco Chanel Style

Pierre Cardin, Space age style

Courreges Style : Yves Saint Laurent

The luxury doesn’t stop here, think about the Ritz, place Vendome (luxury watches and jewellery), The galeries Lafayette, Printemps,The stylish kooples, Colette and interior designer Philippe stark’s work, all scream indulgence. Even in terms of fashion, luxury is imperative. French chic is not a matter of having it all, but a matter of having the best of all that you need. Fashion is like food for the Parisian.

Shopping in Paris: Galeries Lafayette and Printemps

Shopping in Paris

Paris is where true craftsmanship lies. Sophisticated, well-tailored along with best quality and accurate fits are a few respectable necessities. Parisian chic comprises of classically cut fashion worn in an unexpected, yet perfectly elegant way. There is that certain extra design twist or precise detailing that makes each piece special and adds that much needed excitement.

Parisian Chic in popular TV series: ‘Sex in the city’ & ‘Gossip Girl’

Carrie Bradshaw: Paris streets: Sex in the City

Blair Waldorf : paris streets: Gossip Girl

Paris is a melting post of influences from Haute couture to High fashion to Street style. They all are statement making in their own way. Haute couture shows by designers that are colourful and theatrical packed with drama inspired by an enormous culture of art and poetry like Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix ,Chanel,Givenchy etc. Ready to wear collections as seen by true French couturiers like Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Victor & Rolf, Nina Ricci, Sonia Rykiel, Louis Vuitton, Lager, Hermes etc.

One can see these influences on the streets picked up in the form of subtle and well thought out looks.

Haute couture Looks

Chanel Couture: Fall 2011  &     Givenchy Couture:Spring/summer 2011

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Christian Dior Couture: spring/summer2010  &  Christian Dior Couture: Spring/summer 2011

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture: Spring 2011   &   Jean Paul Gaultier couture: Spring 2011

Jean Paul Gaultier Couture: Fall 2010   &     Christian Lacroix Couture: Spring 2009

Street style inspired by Haute couture: The Drama on Streets of Paris

Ready to Wear collections : By French couturiers

Balenciaga: Spring/summer 2011  &   Chanel: Fall/winter 2011

Christian Dior: Fall/winter 2011  &   Christian Dior: Fall/winter 2011

John Galliano: Fall/winter 2011   &   Lanvin: Fall/winter 2010

Louis Vuitton: Spring 2011    &     Alexander McQueen: Fall/ winter 2011

Nina Ricci : Spring 2011  &    Louis Vuitton: Fall 2011

Victor & Rolf : Spring 2011    &    Sonia Rykiel: Spring 2011

High street fashion in paris is well stocked with the latest trends of the season. There is simply so much availability and access to the finest fashion from local sources, and from anywhere in the world, that when people do go for style, it’s rather impeccable.

Street style being about Parisian men and women dressed in clean cuts, age appropriate making casual clothing look superbly fabulous and lavish. The real sophistication comes from how they put it together.

A beautiful dress coat when worn with jeans and a simple T-shirt, along with a luxurious handbag and rich scarf to create can bring out that understated elegance of Parisian fashion.it is about starting out with the right pieces that you can mix and match to wear anywhere.Having the poise to feel elegant and yet slightly off-beat, polished and not glitzy, and self-confident to be individualistic and chic is a sign of a true Parisienne woman.

Paris Street Style: Real People in Real Parisian Style

True Parisian’s have a distinguishing factor like neutral colours (black being their favorite): making a statement with scarves ,hats and accessories (used to dress up and dress down an outfit): tights and leggings in dark colours : jeans in a slim fitted dark wash: right kind of shoes, this one being very very important:  jackets and trench coats (layering due to the weather).They shoot for the best of both worlds, going for comfort but looking stylish at the same time.

So in other words ‘fashion’ and ‘France’ have almost become synonymous.

Try this style of dressing and be sure to not feel left out when on a vacation to Paris.

TRENDS TO FOLLOW: SPRING/SUMMER 2010

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As a continuation to my earlier blog ‘EXOTIC JUNKIES’ ..i present to you some more insight on the fashion trends to follow this spring summer. talking in depth about some of them, their origination and the life cycle.

HAREM PANTS/ DROP CROTCH PANTS

The popular trend of spring summer 2011, drop crotch trousers or harem pants. These high and gathered waists, slouchy cut silhouettes have had their origin in India, on the same lines as the traditional salwar. Harem pants came to the west in mid 1800’s and American feminists like Amelia Bloomer adopted the comfortable look and called them ‘bloomers’. Daring women who didn’t want to wear skirts back then, the blousy bloomers symbolized freedom. Not only did they make a strong statement, but also women found them more attractive than any masculine alternative available at the time.

Bloomers by Amelia Bloomer (earliest forms of harem’s in the west)

Harem pants scored a fashion victory in 1911 when Parisian women started wearing the Eastern-inspired designs of couturier Paul Poiret, known for liberating women from the corset. His new discovery was called “jupe culotte”.

Paul Poiret’s initial ‘jupe culotte’ sketches

Paul Poiret’s actual versions of Harem’s

Yul Brynner brought the trousers to silver screen in the “The King and I” in 1956, but they didn’t appear in fashion for decades, until Yves Saint Laurent resurrected them in the 1970s.

Yul Brynner in ‘The King N I’ showcasing harem’s on silver screen

1970′s Harems in fashion Magazines & YSL harems

These harem pants were popularized again by Mc Hammar in the 80’s and thus came to be known as hammar pants. According to him they gave freedom for dancing, it accentuated movement and created a unique fashion statement. Critics considered it quite an unflattering trend of the time.

Mc Hammer in ‘Hammar Pants’ on stage

The style made a come back in 2009 where designers like temperley London ,chloe, just cavali, paul smith,Ralph Lauren,Derek lam,blumarine all constructed their versions of the harem pants. It was then that it gained popularity amongst masses and Macy’s; Net-a-porter and other brands housed a version of harem pants. It seemed like these were meant for the runway and everyone was awed by their look and construction, these draped trousers were eye catchy after a whole skinny jeans era. These were an anti fashion statement, you can either pull them off stylishly or if not you could look like a walking sac.

HAREMS IN 2008

Blumarine                                                                           Chole

Chloe                                          Just Cavalli                          Paul Smith

Temperly London                                                      Ralph Lauren

The trend has transformed and it now comes back to us in 2011 in a more commercial and wearable form. By giving them a trouser style or fold on the bottom, experimentation with drapes, fabric and texture, these certainly appeal to a wide audience. High street Brands French connection, zara, asos, river island, forever 21,warehouse etc. and also designers like Gucci, Vivienne westwood, vera wang, DVF, Donna Karen, Zac posen, cavalli etc. have stayed true to the loose draped styles and re-done them for spring summer 2011.

HAREMS IN 2011

High Street Brands

French Connection                                                             New Look

Zara                                                                        Topshop

Topshop                                                                   H&M

Designer Collections

Carolina Herrera                              Donna Karen                                   DVF

Gucci                          Just Cavalli                         Vivienne Westwood

Vera Wang                       Zac Posen                             Yves Saint Lauren

Mens Harems/Drop crotch trousers, Haider Ackermann, 2011

Sabah Khan ,India fashion week, 2011

For people, who are afraid to try the look..here are few tips and tricks to make them work.

1. Don’t choose harem pants that are too fussy or baggy in the middle divide, especially if you are short.
2. Harem pants in light drapey fabrics are the most flattering. Try silk or cotton jersey.
3. Set off the bagginess of the trouser with high-heels as these elongate the legs or alternatively some styles of harem pants can work with gladiator sandals.
4. Stay slim on top to counter-balance the fullness of the pants. Wear fitted tops or a clean-cut shirt or blouse.
5. Add a belt and jewellery to create drama for an evening look.
6. Short jacket or an asymmetric style can be perfect to enhance your look. But make sure to keep it snug.

Try experimenting with various celebrity looks like:

Diane Kruger & Gwen Stefani

JLO & Kim Kardashian

There are a number of variations on the harem theme so keep trying until you find one that flatters your shape.

TREND: JUMPSUITS

Jumpsuits: one might think, especially men that they are the most unflattering and figure concealing attire but fashion couturiers have proven this wrong. Once these overall’s were used as protective and shielding devices by skiers, racers, janitors, astronauts, skaters, skydivers etc. to accommodate machine age due to their convenience.

Jumpsuits for work

The garment was initially considered as unisex futuristic attire since it worn by sci-fi characters in movies and cartoon shows for e.g star wars therefore, like any other trend this it where it sparked. By the late 1960’s, jumpsuits reached the high fashion segment. While it was not yet socially acceptable for women to wear pants but jumpsuits were worn as active sport and work wear until the mid-1960s. These powerful experiences and images became key references in later fashion interpretations. From flight suits to movie costumes, to sport and performance uniforms all utilized the distinctive qualities of the one-piece design to enhance that activity or create a powerful visual effect.

Star Wars Si-Fi suits

Yes, its true that glamorous versions have been used earlier on stage by Elvis Presley,Mick jagger and also in the form of shiny catsuits by theatre and stage performers. In the 70’s, jumpsuits were dramatized and made flamboyant by Elvis Presley with styles like ‘chicken rib’, ‘Chinese dragon’, ‘Aloha eagle’, ‘ Black Spanish flower’ and many more.

Elvis Presley and his glamorous jumpsuits

After being absent for several years, the jumpsuit made a come back as a forerunner in spring/summer 2008 fashion trends and ever since then, it has been gaining popularity and climbing the fashion cycle. With celebs like Brooke Shields, Rihanna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gwyneth Paltrow,Selma Blair and designers like paul smith, Gucci, stella Mcartney, Alexander wang, Jeremy liang; showcasing the jumpsuit look on the runway and red carpets has been an inspiration for all to experiment with the look.

Celebs 2008, Come back of jumpsuits

Brooke Shields at Tony Awards-08          Rihanna                        Gwyneth Palthrow

Jumpsuits on Runway 2008

Paul Smith                                               Gucci                                    Stella Mcartney

Stella Mcartney                       Alexander Wang                         Jeremy Liang

Innovation has taken this simple garment to a next level; Drapes, texture, fabric, colours, lengths and other unimaginable details have made jumpsuits adaptable for every body type and occasion. One can choose from a lavish satin and silk drape for an evening or red carpet to simple denim or a cotton print for a day lunch. This trend is hitting its peak this summer of 2011.

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Casual jersey Jumpsuits

Floral Jumpsuits       Minimal jumpsuits     wide legged jumpsuits

The jumpsuit popped up on so many different spring runways it’s hard to keep track of all of their appearances. High street brands, designers, stylists, celebrities are all wearing their favorite picks. Few popular ones being, H & M, zara, New look, frech connection, mango, in the high street fashion category and Ayesha deepala, Rohit Gandhi and Rahul khanna, Atsu Sekhose, Malini Ramani, pankaj and NIdhi in Indian designers category and Roberto cavalli, Donna Karen, D&G, DVF, Elie Saab, Gucci, Marchesa, YSL amongst the international designers category.

High Fashion Bramds, 2011

H&M                                 All saints                                    Monsoon

French Connection                     Mango                              Newlook

Indian Designers,india Fashion week, 2011

Atsu Sekhose            Pankaj & Nidhi       Rohit Gandhi & Rahul Khanna

Rajesh Pratap                      Malini Ramani

International Fashion weeks, 2011

Alexander wang                           Roberto Cavalli                                  D & G

DKNY                                              DVF                                               Ellie Saab

Jean Paul Gaultier                                                                  Gucci

Just Cavalli                                    Lanvin                               Marc by Marc Jacobs

Yves Saint Lauren                                                            Marchesa

We can choose between various styles mainly:

1. Overalls in several fabrics denim, jersey, cotton, linen etc.wear it with a belt or with a cropped jacket or with a boy friend blazer or just with platform heels for the day.
2. Evening with complicated detailing like drapes, tucks, belts and with fabric choices ranging from chiffons and georgettes to satins.
3. Tailored to wear to work and look serious in crisper sharper fabrics and dress it up with accessories perfect for an evening out after work.
4. Loose and flowy ones are a good way to beat the heat. Choose from floral prints, to whites to wide legged to viscose jersey stripes.
5. Sporty can be from a playsuit to tubes to zips to hoodies to simple short jerseys. Team it with knee high socks and sneakers or just wear it casually with flip-flops for a shopping day.

To understand how to work with jumpsuits, use celebs as reference:

Celebs and their styles

Beyonce                             Chloe Sevigny                        Diana Vickers

Vera Wang                                  Tyra Banks                        stylist- Rachel Zoe

Play them up or play them down its totally upto you, own this versatile item of clothing and enjoy wearing it in many different ways. It’s a must have purchase and you wont regret it.

TREND: POP COLOURS

GUCCI

MAX MARA JIL SANDER

PRADA

YVES SAINT LAUREN

Guys soo enjoy this bright splash of colour in your wardrobe be it accessories, bags, shoes and have fun this summer with this vibrant trend.

Exotic Junkies: A Fashion Shoot

ANDROGYNOUS FASHION

In this complicated world where people are puzzled towho they are really are andwho they want to be, there comes another barrier of identifying yourself and with your orientation. With varied choices of orientations becoming normal and acceptable with due consent of marriage; people have keenly adopted confused and versatile forms of lifestyle. This might be a menace for society but it has been a radical innovation for fashion. The metrosexual and the androgyny style of dressing is a result of the openness and acceptance of such cultures. The androgynous style in particular catches my attention, this unisex style has its presence since thirty years and has been experimented by copying styles of musicians like boy George,Michal Jackson and celebrities like Katherine Moenning to name a few. 

Katherine Moenning : Michael Jackson : Boy George

Our fashion has always been influenced and has cultivated its way upwards with the success of films and their stars. The characters instigate the first seed of the trends and styles and their popularization over years depicts its growth and acceptance. And like another, androgyny also sparked off on the same lines.Beginning from movies that celebrate sexual confusion like ‘phantom ofthe paradise’ where males played Most of the female temptresses and others , like Annie hall where Diane Keaton popularized the look of female resembling a male. Sex and the City’s most recent movie shows again the fashion that elevates the power of women with a range of gorgeous styles to suit all tastes. Carrie played by Sarah Jessica Parker wears an androgynous style outfit that highlights the popularity of this style in fashion to hit the streets either at work or play.

 

 

Carrie Bradshaw in sex and the City

Diane Keaton in Annie Hall : Charlie in ‘Charlie & the chocolate factory’

Back in the days, when women were compelled to fight the war,women started wearing trousers and the concept slighty emerged, followed by Madame Coco Channel who rebelliously broke all norms and dressed androgynous. Her structured and tailored style of a skirt with a masculine jacket in tweeds changed the existing mindset and brought androgyny another step closer. You can see her masculine feminine style in the movie ‘Coco Avant Channel’.

Coco Chanel

Audrey Tatou as chanel in‘Coco avant chanel’

Another androgynous icon is queen of the air Amelia Earhart, she rode solo over the Atlantic’s in 1930’s and her fashion was masculine as her profession. She clad in leather jackets, silk ties, and slim trousers, the tomboy ushered in an era of independence for women which was until then confined to corsets and sitting rooms. She was the first to step into men’s shoes and pioneer the skies and also the aviators look. She also took to designing a line of active-wear long before celebrity fashion design was a popular phenomenon. She has been an inspiration for many designers and stylists like Hermes (2009 Autumn/winter collection) and Flavia de Oliveira’s shoot in Elle spain celebrating the rugged masculine style.

Amelia Earhart

Aviator look inspired from Amelia Earhart & Hermes A/W 2009

Flavia de Oliveira’s shoot in Elle spain

Many other designers, photographers, stylists have been inspired by the trend and created their own versions of artistic masterpieces. For more inspiration you can also check out, Paul smith autumn/winter 2006 collection, Hugo boss fall/winter 2010 advertisement campaign and celebrities like Victoria Beckham for Harper’s bazaar, Amanda Peet and Kate Bosworth at current new York fashion week.

Hugo Boss Fall/winter 2010 campaign

Victoria Beckham for Harper’s Bazaar

Kate Bosworth and Amanda Peet at New York Fashion Week

Paul Smith Fall/Winter 2006 collection

For women androgynous fashion is a boon, one can look sharp and confident, hence they can be taken more seriously and appear independent.Androgyny for women does not literally mean suits; one can go very versatile with the trend. For example, leather jackets, trench coats, biker boots, ties to add that masculinity. The boyfriend blazer teamed with a pencil skirt or skinny jeans, leather jacket with a lace top or ruffles with jeans and biker boots or a well-tailored dress in a manly fabric with pinstripes, plaids or tweeds can all be modern androgynous fashion. Traditional and other ways of achieving the look can include women cropping their hair, power dressingin suits, adding male accessories like hats with brims, boots and loafers, tuxedo style jackets and vests.

For men, androgyny comes harder; there is a thin line between men dressing unisex and looking feminine. Androgynous fashion for men originated way back in the 17^th century where men’s clothing had several similarities with women clothing like lace trims, embroideries and other details. But this faded away slowly and is now making a subtle come back. These days, men have various options when it comes to adopting this trend like draped trousers, bootcut pants, t shirts with cowls,skinny jeans and other intricate detailing: all these are a way of adding some feminity to men’s clothing. Other ways can be, keeping long hair like Michael Jackson, men’s kilts, harem pants, use of softer and printed fabrics, using pastel colours, asymmetry are all means of bringing androgyny back to men’s fashion.

Womens and mens trends are unisexual like this season, it is pop colour trousers,cartoon and animated graphics on tee’s, brogues, loafers, drop crotch trousers, loose and draped silouhettes, blazers,scarves and many such others.

Few Androgynous Looks:

So guys ..try and experiment with this unisex style of fashion and discover a whole new interesting approach to dressing. You can look powerful, sophisticated, confident or just extremely stylish and iconic amongst your friends and colleagues.