Paris and my top 5 stylish cities
June 6th, 2008All five of the cities below share a common characteristic: the style quotient is high amongst men and women of all ages and lifestyles. From professionals bustling to work, to SAHM’s pushing prams, and to older folk enjoying retired life. It’s very apparent that people who live in these cities enjoy style, fashion and looking great every day.
- Hong Kong: My clear overall winner. People take immense pride in how they present themselves and the result is mind blowing. Hong Kong style is as polished, chic, creative, fashion-forward and as beautiful as it gets. You’ll see wearable couture mixed with inexpensive product effortlessly walking down the street. It’s “the” people-watching fashion city and I am left with the same impression each time we visit.
- London: As far as Euro-style goes, Londoners do it best. There is a funky, artsy and mismatched retro element to the city’s style that’s unique. It’s edgy, urban, super trendy and tasteful. People don’t look particularly polished, but are always interesting, current, well put together and appropriate for every occasion.
- New York: The city that never sleeps wins in America. New Yorkers are known for their high style quotient and for good reason. It’s urban American style with Euro influence at its best. I adore this city and the mixture of both continental styles makes it extra special.
- Barcelona: Spain’s leadership in fashion retail capital permeates style throughout Barcelona. Local retailers are hip and affordable and people take advantage of this luxury.
- Paris: The couture capital of the universe comes in third for Europe and last on this list. Not quite as chic as you might expect, but stylish and full of character nonetheless. My favourite part about Parisian style is how well women dress as they get older. Ladies in their mid 50’s and older are a cut above the rest and it is inspirational.
Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Vancouver and Stockholm didn’t quite make my top five list but they came close. I have not spent enough time in Tokyo, Milan or Munich which is why these cities don’t feature on my list. Which cities do you rate as the most stylish and why?
I grew up in Hong Kong and could be accused of a little bias. We travel back every couple of years and this picture was taken in December of 2006.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Awesome picture!
Angie, how do you think fashion in the foreign places you mentioned, affect the US? How much trickles down ? Is one city more likely to affect Americans than another?
June 6th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Wow, Vancouver over Toronto or Montreal? That’s surprising. Granted, I’ve never been to Vancouver, but I was impressed by the high style quotient in Montreal (plus, they have great shopping).
June 6th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I’m so excited that Hong Kong is on top of your list. I’m going there in one month and I will take pictures and share them here. I hope that they are more colorful in Summer than what you’ve seen in Paris.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I agree Angie, walking around Central in HK is an amazing experience - I love sitting in The Landmark and watching the fashion parade. Julia I hope you enjoy your visit to HK - it’s one of my favorite cities.
June 6th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Hi Angie,
I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your Paris series. Thanks. I *almost* feel like I went with you.
As far as big cities, I have been to London, Rome, NY, San Franciso, Milan, Florence and Mexico City….Vancouver too. New York was the most fashionable place I saw. London was surprisingly conservative, you saw people expensively dressed, but no risk-taking, no new trends. And way too much Burberry plaid. Rome was a mixed bag as you see every class of people and every country represented. But the people who are fashionable there are really fashionable. What I noticed most in Rome was the way the men dressed. Very careful in their grooming and thoughtful in their clothing selections. They presented themselves with lots of attention to detail - shined shoes, manicured hands, cologne, colorful modish ties. Mexico City was quite disappointing fashion wise, but to be fair, I wasn’t in the fancy shopping district where I would imagine the wealthy people hang out. I was in the historical center, the art-deco Condesa neighborhood and Chapultepec park. I saw lots of unfashionable and unflattering jeans and Tshirts. On working women downtown, I saw uninteresting suits worn with tennies. What I didn’t see despite the weather in the 80s were things like tank tops or shorts. Although people were wearing lots of sweaters and sweatshirts. So I’m not sure if the lack of visible skin is a fashion statement, or if people just feel chilly if the temps are below 100. Maybe both. Milan has lots of high fashion in the fancy shopping areas and the people shopping there are very expensively and carefully dressed - many with little dogs as accessories in trendy dog bags. In the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele (a place to see and be seen) I saw a surprising number of women trying things they just couldn’t carry off, due to a fatal flaw - such as a visible panty line, the wrong shoes or heel height, a fit problem - even though the clothing itself looked expensive and trendy. This makes me realize that part of looking fab is buying what makes you feel comfortable and happy with your look. No matter how trendy the outfit, I think that if you don’t feel good about yourself in the clothes, you won’t look good. I can’t say I’ve even noticed much fashion in Vancouver but I tend to hang out in the West End, near the university and Stanley Park, so it may not be the best area to judge.
That’s it. I hope others can tell me what I’ve missed.
Nancy
June 6th, 2008 at 8:22 am
As a person from Vancouver, I’m honoured that Vancouver made your list! When I was working in the advertising industry there, I saw lots of fabulous looking people but it did not occure to me that Vancouver would make any sort of Top 5 list! Although I will admit, the shopping is supurb! Many of my California friends are surprised when I say I want to go “home” to Vancouver so I can do some real shopping! An afternoon in Holt Renfrew is simply devine! And cruising down South Granville is quite amazing. Now, 16 years after I left my beautiful town, I am more appreciative of what is there.
I agree that Montreal is probably the most fashionable city in Canada. IMO more like the essence of Paris. Vancouver is probably more simular to the London feeling. Although Vancouver has a LOT of the Hong Kong influence.
Currently living in SoCal, I am so disappointed with the fashion scene here. Flip flops and sweat pants everywhere! You would think with all the hollywood influence, we would be able to see some leading edge stuff. But frankly, no. If I see one more thong flashing or cleavage baring I will scream. I enjoy people watching in Seattle and Vancouver much more…
June 6th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Thanks Nancy and your comment is particularly interesting. Our impressions of London street fashion are opposite. Of all the cities that I visit, I’ve been to London the most (fashion buying days took me there a lot and family continue to take me there virtually every year). I am constantly impressed by how trendy and well put together people of all ages are. It’s a pleasure to watch. Perhaps we were in different parts of London???
Your impression of Rome is more like my impression of NY. A completely mixed bag but stylish all the same.
Fuji, I hear you! We speak the same style language. Julia, you’ll love it! The weather shall be very hot and sticky though.
Hard question, Nicole. There is definitely a difference between American and European retail and street fashion. And a difference between urban and small town style. And in some instances, the two shall never meet. For the most part trends are international, but the acceptance of them in different parts of the world is different. Skinny vs. wide legged jeans are a great example.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Wonderful post! As you can see from my “German fashion notes” on the forum, I was a bit disappointed with the style in Duesseldorf this time around. Within Germany, I’d put Munich first in terms of style, with Duesseldorf second. And Hamburg is not to be underestimated.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I was surprised this year by the stylish people of Taipei. Lots of women in skinnies tucked into their gorgeous knee-high, low-healed boots. Lots of cute sling bags (which I’m partial to) and I was impressed with how style transends age there. Some very chic older women, which as Angie points out, is always inspirational.
I also spent some time in Tokyo last year and LOVED people watching there. The women look fantastic (as do their little dogs.) Many wear expensive, tailored, designer clothes as everyday wear! It looks as though they’ve just steped out of a Louis Vuitton ad. (there is a bit of an unhealthy obsession with LV and designer stuff…) But many young people bunk this style and come up with the most creative outfits I’ve ever seen. So fun.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
I see that NY doesn’t have a link, which means there was never a post about it, which means you’re due for a visit!
June 6th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
What?! No mention of Seattle, with our track suits, birkenstocks, & Eddie Bauer?
Just joshing. This was really interesting…thanks, Jane
June 6th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Angie, I loved this series and long to hear more details. Would you consider an entry on those over-50 Parisian women who look fab? I desperately need inspiration to find a style that works for me at 62+!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I’ve been to London, NYC, and Paris and agree with you on the high level of style there. You can get a good education on how to dress just watching people walk by on the street. Haven’t been to Barcelona yet, but I have been to Madrid. I thought the Madrilenos were pretty stylish, but not quite on a level with London, NYC, or Paris. I agree with Nancy on Rome–kind of a mixed bag. And you’re probably right about Hong Kong’s high style quotient. I grew up in Manila, and the women in my family used to go to Hong Kong every year to do their Christmas shopping. It’s the shopping mecca of the Far East. Unfortunately I was too young to be taken along, so I’ve never been there. I’d love to visit it one of these days.
June 7th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Hi Angie,
I have really enjoyed your recent posts.
I am surprised Rome did not make your list. I live in Europe and the Italians are definitely the most stylish, take the most care with their outfits, best groomed and of course have the most beautiful shoes.
I was in London two weeks ago and although the shopping was very on trend I felt that the street fashion was very generic.
Paris and French women have a flare for fashion and definitely deserve a place on your list. Amsterdam is indeed very stylish, but Dutch women have a very definitive style that is different to the rest of Europe.
June 7th, 2008 at 11:02 am
as a person who grew up in Toronto, and have been all over Canada (ok, not Saskatchewan but that doesn’t count
), without a doubt, Montreal trumps all other Canadian cities. Those people are so chic, including the men!
As for other cities, I was in London recently and was really impressed with the personal style i saw.
seattle would do well if we could only stop people from wearing socks with sandals…..
June 7th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Thank you for choosing Barcelona!
June 8th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Great list Angie - a lot of people think Milan should be a certainty on the best-dressed lists but I found the people there way too polished and most had obviously spent far too much on their clothing. Hong Kong is sensational for affordable fashion - we’ve got to meet there one of these years - it is kind of halfway between Seattle and Melbourne!!
June 8th, 2008 at 7:01 am
In all my travels, I was most pleasantly surprised by the style quotient that I witnessed in Krakow, Poland, especially among young people, though people of all ages demonstrated a certain elegance and class. I had just assumed that having spent all those years behind the Iron Curtain, the Poles would be behind the times, but it was quite the opposite - they proved to have great style, pride and a sort of tangible eagerness to prove that to the rest of the world.
June 8th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I’m afraid I don’t have as much to say, as my travels haven’t been too extensive (those student loans really start to eat up your expendable income). I did find Nancy’s take on Mexico City interesting. I spent quite a lot of time in Mexico City in high school and college, as I had family there. The last time I was able to go, however, was in 2001. I actually found wealthier Mexicans–those who had time and money to care– extremely fashionable. Such that when I went out, I was a little embarrassed at my lack of style. The clothing was also a bit more risque than I care to dress. The problem with Mexico City is not the heat–I don’t ever remember it getting too hot at all. It stays relatively cool (relatively) there in the mountains. The problem is the poverty level. Of all the cities mentioned, Mexico City suffers most from poverty and income inequality. Even in the more urban and fun districts like Nancy mentioned, the poor (those more apt to wear less fashion-conscious clothes) are prevalent.
I do find Montreal to be fashionable, but since I’ve never been to the other large towns in Canada (Toronto or Vancouver), I can’t judge.
I also agree about Rome. Roman style is very modern-classic with some individuality thrown in. Smart casual is the name of the game. But the men, oh the men; in New York they might be called metro, but in Rome, that’s just how it is.
Loved your posts Angie. Thanks!
June 8th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Angie, I hope you take Joy’s request into consideration. I teach junior high, and I sure do not want to dress like they do! As a mid-50er, I am always looking for ideas. I am into vintage at the moment. The coats and purses work for me. I was in Amsterdam for Christmas, and I enjoyed the simplicity of the stylish older ladies. I am interested at this stage of life in buying more expensive basic items and playing around with accessories in the go -to colors. I read everything you say very carefully, Angie, although I don’t often send in remarks. Maybe you can address us specifically.
Joy, We need to “talk”!
June 10th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I don’t agree with you at all. I lived in Paris almost for 6 years and last april we moved to London. French women (and men) dress a million times better than people in London, in fact I think that english women are exactly the definition of “fashion victims”, yes they all buy the latest things but most of them look terrible. French women may not be as trendy but they know what suits them and the result is so much better.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Angie, I’d like to add my voice to the request for more dish on what helps women 50+ look fab. French women definitely have it down. What is it that makes it so noticeable? Thanks!
June 12th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Joy, Dilys and Louise, I’m happy to oblige. I have plenty of clients their 50’s and 60’s and I adore dressing this age group.
But first read this controversial blog posting from a wee while ago and be sure to read the comments too. My view point remains the same and this is precisely why women in their 50’s and 60’s in Paris and other stylish cities look fabulous. With a little care it’s easy to accomplish.
http://www.youlookfab.com/2007.....-your-age/
June 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
HI Angie - Yes, I have to admit I was not in the most posh areas in London! We went to Harrods, etc. but we stayed in Soho and were mostly in the West End. When we did go downtown, that is where I saw all that Burberry. It was 2003, so hopefully that has played out now!
Soho was a whole other story. Talk about people wearing low-rise jeans and shortie tops that shouldn’t be! Ugh. That is just about ALL we saw on the streets of Soho. But we did have Tilda Swinton and Rupert Everett staying at our hotel and they looked good.
Obviously, I need to go back to London with instructions from you on where to go!
Nancy
July 7th, 2008 at 6:40 am
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October 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am
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