Paris in the stores
June 3rd, 2008I enjoy comparing retail in the different fashion capitals of the world. Subtle and blatant differences often emerge between the continents because lifestyles, cultures, aesthetic preferences and weather patterns vary. So while in Paris I traipsed to all sorts of retailers. From world renowned exclusive department stores like Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, to Euro chain stores like Zara, H&M, Promod, Etam, Morgan, BGN, Caroll and Zappa. I also put my nose into several upmarket and wholesale boutiques.
Here is what Parisian retail had to offer at the height of its Spring 2008 season:
- Colour, colour and more colour: French stores displayed a sea of colour. Yellow, citron, red, coral, cobalt, lime, orange and emerald green reigned supreme with loads of ‘80’s shocking pink on the way. White, cream and dove grey were next on the list and very little black. Haute couture windows were full of lilac and turquoise merchandise which makes me think those colours are big for mainstream fashion next season.
- Jeans: 70% of all denim was skinny or straight-legged. 30% was boot cut and wide-legged. Wide-legged jeans remain an American fashion trend. Most washes were dark blue, stonewashed or white and no signs of acid wash. All rise lengths were represented, from super low to just above under-bust-point. Denim was very plain. No tears, whiskers, excessive bleaching or embellishment. Just how I like it.
- Pants: All silhouettes were equally represented. Again, styling was plain. No bells and whistles, but instead an emphasis on interesting fabrication and loads of cream and white bottom options. Micro-check pants in gingham, baby hounds tooth and subtle plaids surface every Euro season and stores were once again full of this look.
- Cropped pants: Clamdiggers and bermuda walk shorts were extremely popular, in denim, cotton twill and wool crepe.
- Skirts: There were few around. No denim and if anything, above the knee pencil silhouettes were the “it” skirt style.
- Dresses: Printed fit-and-flare dress were everywhere. From mini to maxi and everything in-between. Shirt dresses and sack dresses were still around but took a back seat.
- Tops: The voluminous trend continues. Bright, printed, drapey, billowing tunic blouses were plentiful and knitted top styles with front yoke detailing were the order of the day. Very few baby dolls, empire cuts and back-tie silhouettes. Generally a lot more availability of woven tops than in America. I adore woven blousy tops, tunics and interesting shirt silhouettes which made this aspect of Parisian fashion heavenly.
- Knitwear: It’s all about the short-sleeved, cropped cardigan layered over just about anything.
- Jackets: Very few trapeze styles, but plenty of trenches, short bolero jackets and classic blazer styles.
- Linen: A European Summer is not the same without a linen epidemic. Linen pants, skirts, tops, tunics, dresses and jackets swamped stores. I’m not fond of linen unless it’s on my dining room table, but it continues to be a hit in France, along with silk, cotton and wool blends. Beige, cream and white remain popular colours for Euro linen product.
- Prints: Floral and global tribal designs were the order of the day, along with polka dots and stripes. No animal prints and virtually no geometrics. Thank goodness there is superior print variety in the US. If I see another loud Sanderson floral maxi dress I’m going to faint.
- Patent: I have never seen so much shine in one season. Real, faux, plain or cracked, you name it and the patent product was there in the colour of your choice. Jackets, coats, belts, bags, shoes, wallets, key rings, pendants, watch straps, headbands, hairclips, hats, luggage and doggie collars. Don’t shop in Paris if you’re not into patent.
- Necklaces: Huge chunky link necklaces (I’m talking links the size of your wrist), and plastic jewelry occupied all accessory departments and jewelry boutiques. Very few chandelier earrings. It’s all about the chunky statement necklace.
- Handbags: You’ll find all handbag styles in Paris. It’s impossible to generalize about silhouettes, but bright colours, white, cream, bone, beige and grey handbags prevailed. Metallics took a back seat.
- Belts: waist cinching belts in all widths and designs are still strong.
- Shoes: Stay tuned. This topic gets its own blog posting.
All in all, there is similarity between American and European fashion right now. Are there any Euro retail trends this season that you miss in America?
Left: the best thing I saw in Paris was this cream patent tote from Sequoia. I already have one, so I had to walk past quickly. Right: the neutral linen look that surfaces in France every season.
Ditsy florals, like those worn by the mannequin on the right, were everywhere. Not my cup of tea.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 am
Excellent article Angie! I’ve enjoyed reading it a lot. It seems that the trends are pretty similar to those here, with few minor exceptions. I wish it was as simple here to find simple well tailored pants&jeans without bells&whistles. The selection of trenches sounds yummy too.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 am
More “Angie - in -action” shots–love it!
I am missing Europe’s jeans silhouettes. Wish we had all those nice straight and skinny jeans to puruse in the states.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 am
I, like the French, adore linen. In the hot summer, there is nothing better. Unfortunately, I hate how quickly it gets wrinkled. Alas, my linen stays in my backyard.
I realized of late that I am starting to progress from a knitwear gal to a blouse gal, so I suppose that is the trend I hope to see the most in the US.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Wow, love you in that jacket you’re rockin’ Angie! The cut and the fit…fab! I don’t want to make you cringe :), but I could do with more fashion shots of you like The Satorialist web site:http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ Thanks for keeping us up on Euro style.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Wonderful article! This really helps me decide what to keep and what to avoid buying. As a newer reader I’m wondering what a fit-and-flare dress is exactly. Do they work for rectangles?
Also, I’m wondering about the length of the classic blazers. Where should they hit on your body? Like tops, should they be longer for wear with pants, shorter for skirts? Most blazers I try seem too long. Can they be worn with sheath dresses?
I’d love to see more skinny jeans and a better selection of woven tops in the US stores.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:32 am
Wonderful reading! I felt like I had been to Paris.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 am
I’m really missing the straight and skinny leg silhouette here in the US. Plus, the lack of variety in cream or white bottoms is frustrating.
As a blousy girl, I would LOVE to see more variety in woven tops–both quality and style. This is a huge part of why I love Anne Fontaine. It’s one of the few places here in Austin that offer a wide variety of beautifully made, classic blouses.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Thank you SO much for this insight!!! I’m especially excited to hear your clues about upcoming jewelry trends. I am starting some new designs for my jewelry business and LOVE knowing what direction to head.
I just bought a couple of short-sleeved, cropped cardigans (one black, one brown) and have been wearing them with everything. Not only do they look cute and stylish, they are functional…keeps the shoulders warm without any bulk. Perfect for indoor air conditioning!
I’ve had my eye on a kelly green cardigan and have been on the fence about getting it. Now, with the trend towards COLOR, I feel more confident in this purchase. Thanks so much, Angie!
I’m glad that there were few skirts. I am having such a hard time putting together a nice skirt outfit because of the shortage of skirt-appropriate tops available. All the tops I am finding are loose and tunic-y..which look better with pants and shorts. Can I just state my frustration at the imbalance of merchandise…if you offer skirts make sure there are tops that work with them. (end of rant)
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Angie, thank you so much for your Paris updates! Your photos take me back to when I lived there as a university student 10 years ago. I love that city! And I love your sophisticated, pixie-ish look.
I am so glad to hear that voluminous tops are still popular, along with straight-leg or skinny jeans. That look does wonders for my apple shaped figure and I do need to replace some of my tunics as they are starting to look worn out. I’d like to move on to more close fitting button-down shirts, but I still have a tummy to lose! Still working on that.
Also I’m happy to hear that color is still very much “in”. As for patent, that’s probably something I should think about more in accessories. I have one black patent bag and one pair of black patent heels and that’s it. A patent bag or two in bright colors might be a great way to add more snap to my wardrobe without too much expense.
I’m not a fan of linen either–it’s nice and cool in hot weather but I don’t like how disheveled it looks when it wrinkles. And I hate ironing…
June 4th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Angie,
What an awesome breakdown of the trends in Paris. It’s so fun to have this window into the fashions of the uber-chic Parisians.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:50 am
[…] « Paris in the stores […]
June 4th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Thank you so much for this, Angie! Your blog is fantastic and has become my favorite fashion resource. I love having an insider’s guide to current Euro trends. I was an exchange student in France and also lived in Europe for a few years, and I miss the fashions that were more readily available over there.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
What is micro-check pant?
June 6th, 2008 at 7:27 am
[…] and gives a great look and heads up as to where fashion trends are heading in France. Read about http://www.youlookfab.com/2008.....t;Parisian Store Fashion, Parisian Street Fashion, and last of all, about Parisian Shoe Fashion. I’ll talk about […]
June 11th, 2008 at 7:09 am
[…] maxi (or “patio”) day dress worn with flat gladiator sandals is the “it” look for frocks in Paris stores this season. The silhouette is less popular in US stores, but you’ll find one or two of these dresses in most […]
June 19th, 2008 at 7:16 am
[…] best paired with orange, yellow, a sour green, smoky grey or white. If my predictions are correct, turquoise is going to be big next season. If shocking pink comes to play we’re in store for the biggest ‘80’s colour revival yet. Do […]
June 21st, 2008 at 8:22 pm
On Friday I bought my first pair of straight jeans…Did I say that right? I bought them at Jcrew for $98. They were a bit long so I had them shortened so I could wear them with flats for my trip to Paris (I leave on Thursday) I’m still a bit unsure as to what to take and I dread packing but I will use the tips on this forum to get me through the dreaded packing.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:00 am
[…] Wide leg pants: they look great on the right body type but are generally hard to wear. There was too much of this product in US stores. Complete overkill. It’s interesting that this look did not take off in Europe. […]