My Style, My City: From One City to Another

Last Thursday I had the privilege of sitting down with a good friend and ex-coworker of mine Jill! Jill is a fashion merchandising student at Mount Mary College who recently just got back from a trip to PARIS FRANCE (aka the fashion capitol of the world) and guess who she told ALL about it! Check it out!!

Seven for all mankind Faded black jeans 177.00

Jack White Pleather Coat 56.00

MinkPink Say no More Tee 48.00

Free People Scarlet Beanie 28.00

What made you decide to visit Paris as opposed to other fashion cities (i.e London/Prague)?

Paris was actually offered in the study abroad trip, and I have always wanted to go to Paris so it worked out perfectly. It is the one city that you can really grasp and understand everything in fashion. Theres a lot of things there that we don't get to see here in the United States.

What types of fashion did you see in Paris?

There was sooo much! A lot like you'd see here. A lot of people wore oxford wedges and skinny jeans. Men wore jeans that were way tighter than you’d see here. Tons and Tons of fur, everyone had a fur jacket. A lot of people were wearing jean shorts with cuffs and black tights to. That was huge in Paris!

What types of color palettes are used in Paris fashion?

I was seeing a lot of coral colors. We went to a lot of showings for 2011 and 2012 and those colors are very back to basics like clay colors ,blacks, and whites. There is a lot of neon colors that are going to be popular for this spring along with pale pinks , blush colors, and orangy coral colors. Blue’s were also very popular in Europe.

Where there any similar trends in Paris as in the United States? What were the differences?

Yes! There are so many! Skinny jeans, boots, fur etc., are used in Paris fashion as in the United States, but they have a more fashion forward approach.

What are some examples of designers that you saw in Paris that are popular in the United States?

Yeah defiantly, I did a report on John Galliano, who's not popular here but I would defiantly look him up, plus hes the creative director for Dior. The three main designers in Paris are Louis Vuitton, John Galliano, Dior, and Armez who's creative director John Gaulter. Chanel is still big there as well.

What is the most exciting thing you saw in Paris upon visitation?

The coolest thing was help out with the fashion week fashion shows. I got to hostess three of them and dress one. I got to host a men's show and a couture show but also dress a couture show which was really exciting.

What is the nightlife like Paris and what do you wear when going out?

The nightlife is very interesting. Like, we went to bar one night and went in the basement, and the drinking age is 18 which was weird, and there was a dance floor where people were doing middle school moves like the sprinkler. We wore a lot of leggings, boots, and skinnies, Dresses were also big. Nightlife is a lot more dressy, not trashy like a lot of Milwaukee clubs, its very tasteful and proper.

Did you take an classes in Paris, and if so what were the differences between and American classroom and a French classroom?

Yeah I took a trend analysis class, and we had to write a paper comparing two designers. We compared John Galliano and Dior and we also created a boutique. We had to draw out a floor plan, color it, complete perspective drawings, what clothes we’d want to carry etc. Our teachers were from France and we had a class that we made Shabory scarves and feathers that we made feather headbands with. The guy that taught us about feathers actually makes them for Dior and John Galiano shows which was amazing.

Overall how was your experience in France? Would you recommend this trip to other students?

Yes I would defiantly recommend it. It was expensive to go but defiantly worth the trip. It was like living on your own, and in those four weeks we saw everything Paris had to offer. I never knew you could do so much in a day!

Talking with Jill TOTALLY made me want to go to PARIS and experience all of the FASHION world, but since most of us can't hop on a plane and go, we at Nextdoor made some great examples of Paris Fashion here in your own backyard. Take a look!