Paris Fall Fashion 2019
I was in Paris during fall fashion week in September where common folk like myself never got anywhere near the catwalks of the world’s most renown designers from Schiaparelli to Chanel.
In fact, the only thing I heard about fashion week at all was that at the L”Oréal fashion show 74-year old actress Helen Mirren surprised the audience by sprinting down the runway in a flowing black-and-white chiffon dress in her bare feet!
Helen Mirren On The Runway
I thought that was incredibly cool. She was likely the oldest model at fashion week (the average age is 16 to 20 years). She wore a beautiful age appropriate dress, and she had spurned the stilettos, because as any woman of a certain age knows, we can no longer wear or walk even 10 steps in those damn things.
Helen Mirren closes Fashion Week at the L”Oréal Fashion Show! Dress is by Giambattista Valli.
Interesting too that Mirren was the highlight of the week, when as we all know, Paris haute couture, and it seems the more outrageous the better, is supposed to steal the show.
A Jean-Paul Gaultier design at Paris Fall Fashion Week 2019
I myself do find the designs entertaining, understanding of course, that their theatrics rarely reflect what the rest of us would buy or wear. Is this outfit above a coat?
What To Wear?
So how to be stylish this winter you ask? I went shopping in Paris to find out.
What I discovered in the stores was similarly puzzling, and what I can only describe as “mishmash” fashion.
Mishmash Fashion is HOT
On the left of the photo above, a long plaid jacket is showcased over a gold lame cocktail dress over a violet shirt with collar tied tight to the throat — “Mishmash” fashion — meaning — put items of clothing that would not normally go together with colours that definitely don’t match, and own it!
The bright green wool tuque really adds some sophistication to this outfit don’t you think?
The Puffy Look
I find this outfit below particularly intriguing. It appears to be dress jacket, below which a puffy vest is attached by a zipper. Notice the armholes at the bottom. You can wear the two together like this to keep your posterior warm I guess, or you can unzip the vest and wear it over the jacket.
Jacket and puffy vest attached
Back view
Is it a new take on the puffy coat worn off the shoulder, which by the way, is still prominent in store displays in Paris.
Love the pink purse and running shoes.
CutOUTS Are In!
Paris’s fashion week apparently highlighted garments with lots of ruffles, and cutouts!
I found this blouse featured twice in the same store.
I have no words.
Cut out shirt with “mishmash” fashion
And this is a jean jacket below — well there is one sandwiched between all the ruffles.
Jean Jacket Front View
Side View
And finally, if you have a wolf you need to dress, or want to dress like a wolf…
Sigh.
The world has gone mad.
I wonder now if Helen Mirren was in fact running away…
Galeries Lafayette Weekly Fashion Shows
Paris Fashion Week is over until next Spring BUT just a reminder that Galeries Lafayette, Paris’ most well known department store offers a 30-minute “Ready-to-Wear” Fashion Show usually on Fridays. Lots of fun and the price is right.
Catch up on previous blogs you might have missed at www.womanofacertainageinparis.com
Here’s what I had to say about Paris fashion a year ago at —
https://womanofacertainageinparis.com/travel-stories/the-paris-fashion-show/
Diana Bishop the founder of The Success Story Program and A Woman of a Certain Age in Paris as well as a well-known correspondent with over 25 years working for CTV, CBC News, and NBC News. She loves travel, writing, and all things Parisienne.
The fashions pictured are just plain too weird for me or anyone i would imagine. But i’ll bet the Fashion shows during the Paris week are exciting to experience.
For me the Lafayette fashion shows is right down my interest alley.
Im happy to add this experience on my to do list when next in Paris. Thanks Diana! I have a to do list started just from reading your blog!
Let’s go together!
Oh Mon Dieu !!!!! I l love Paris but …!!!!!!!
I am really happy to wear my own non-theatrical garb this season!
You always look amazing Shardie!
It would be interesting to see Paris fashion week, I keep thinking what would designers make on average height people, currently 5’4”.
Hi Eileen. I would love to go to some of the shows too but the tickets run about $1500 if you can
even get them. It is fun to see some of the crazy stuff the designers come up with. I wonder often what
the models say behind the scenes. Thanks so much for commenting Eileen. I hope we hear from you again soon, Diana
Was in Paris that week, too. Only sign of Fashion Week was when I happened to walk by what I imagine was a venue–think it was the Monnaie de Paris–on my way to Ile de la Cite. Only recognized it as a fashion week event because photographers were swarming out front taking photos of a woman dressed in a long red outfit. Kept walking.
Did stroll through Galleries Lafayette where it is lovely to see the beautiful fabrics and colors–though my taste is more Max Mara than the outlandish stuff of fashion week (not that I can afford either). I bought several scarves there. Always my choice of souvenir.
Mary — yes one can do so much with scarves. And they are some beautiful ones in Paris. Thanks for the comment. Diana
The new fashions are great. You can take all those clothes buried in your closet, make up your own mishmash or just cut holes in it and be on top of the fashion world without spending a dime.
Peter!!! Finally a man’s opinion! I noticed that the men’s fashions in Paris were so simple and elegant. And what was in the store windows reflected that men wore on the street. What a concept! Thanks for weighing in Peter. Diana
The fashions are a little over the top but just add one piece that is runway-inspired and use it with something you love. I am a woman of certain age but love to dress even if it is the supermarket or meeting with clients. I think it says you care about your self and gives you confidence; also why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary! This will amuse you I wae pearls when I garden with a great tracksuit One of my fave things to do is add a vintage square silk scarf to an outfit too give it some oomph! Love this column and of course the writer.
Hi Ann,
You are so right. I think less is always more and you can choose something fabulous, like a scarf, a bag, a pair of earrings and just one at a time to add a little pizzazz! Thank you for the kind words too. I love getting your comments. Diana
Oh for the days depicted of Paris fashion house Dior, in the sweet little book called “Mrs. ‘Arris goes to Paris”. A London char woman falls in love with the idea and obsession of owning a Dior dress and saves and scrimps until she gets to the famous fashion salon and meets some incredible people…. a lovely, lighthearted read and the antipathy of the current fashions you showed us!
I’m planning a December trip to Paris but after seeing these current examples in Galleries Lafayette I may skip the fashion departments and just look at the decorations!?? What do you recommend for December?
It sounds like a lovely book Juliette. I must get it and add it to my list of books on Paris to tell my readers about. Thank you.
You must still go to Galeries Lafayette and Au Bon Marche anyway. Imagine what the Christmas decorations will be like!
Things to do — well I do highly recommend Paris Greeters — the site where you can spend a day or half day with a guide (for free) who is knowledgeable about whatever you are interested in. It can be a particular neighbourhood, markets, a museum of your choice, or anything. It is really a nice way to meet a local Parisian too. Go back and look at my previous blogs and you will find lots of things to do. Let me know if you have any other questions. I have always wanted to be in Paris at Christmas time. Diana