"Fashions fade, style is eternal"
Yves Saint Laurent
As Americans, we sometimes imagine the French as living in a sort of hazy, idyllic world of wine, cobbled streets, and perfect, timeless chic. These myths of the well-dressed Frenchman or Frenchwoman are perpetuated by lovely sites such as The Sartorialist and Garance Doré.
Man in 80's/90's-inspired monochrome track suit
Gladiator Sandals: Dating back to 1st century BCE
and Summer '08.
Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton at the 2009 MET Costume Institute Gala
Everyday French lady version
This trend seems to work better in men's shoes than in women's
Um, i think the price listed here is a joke.
Scott and Garance live in a world where everyone looks like these girls and him or her and this lady.
The myth is beautiful, but the reality is that -- even despite some of the things we've said on this blog -- everyday French people don't look so different from Americans.
everyday French folks -- except for the 2-hour lunches, they're just like you!
Of course, there are some exceptions.
1. Anachronistic Trends
You may or may not have heard that the 80's and early 90's are making a comeback. I have spotted a range of anachronistic trends...
Man in 80's/90's-inspired monochrome track suit
Gladiator Sandals: Dating back to 1st century BCE
and Summer '08.
2. Punk Ladies
There is a distinctly punk-inspired, Mad Max element to current French trends. Extraneous zippers, studs, gatherings, asymmetry, etc.
There is a distinctly punk-inspired, Mad Max element to current French trends. Extraneous zippers, studs, gatherings, asymmetry, etc.
3. Runway-to-Street
Fashion-forward runway looks, converted for the everyday woman
Fashion-forward runway looks, converted for the everyday woman
Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton at the 2009 MET Costume Institute Gala
Everyday French lady version
4. Pointy Elf-inspired shoes
This trend seems to work better in men's shoes than in women's
Um, i think the price listed here is a joke. 
1 comment:
I love it! Thanks for dispelling all of our illusions. And the pointy shoes for men are VERY common in East Africa; I always wondered where the trend came from.
Post a Comment