AN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF’S TAKE ON PARIS FASHION WEEK
An Editor-in-Chief’s Take On Paris Fashion Week
Guest contributor and editor-in-chief of whowhatwear Kat Collings gives us a fascinating look into a bustling week as a fashion insider during Paris Fashion Week.
It’s the first season since 2020 that Paris Fashion Week has felt fully back to its old self. Schedules are packed with shows, previews, and parties, all the best restaurants are brimming with fashion editors, buyers, and models, and everyone is bouncing around the city, from Le Marais to Champs-Élysées, powered by caffeine and gratitude to be back in action. I’ve been coming to Paris Fashion Week for five years, and it feels incredible to be here for fashion’s biggest bi-annual moment.
On Choosing What to Wear:
Everyone dresses to impress for fashion week, and over the years I’ve discovered a few tips for selecting the perfect outfit. First, you have to consider the setting: out of all the major fashion capitals, Paris definitely has a more sophisticated bent. You may also want to slightly align your looks with the aesthetic of the designer’s show you’re attending. After that, I make sure I have one or two standout items in my look; statement accessories from CHARLES & KEITH are an easy way to amp up your outfit.
On the Best Shows of the Season:
Two shows I found truly impressive were Loewe and Valentino. The former was an exercise in pure creativity; I’d love to spend a dinner picking the creative director Jonthan Anderson’s brain. I was intrigued by the sculptural anthuriums that were fashioned into dresses and tops and immediately wanted to add many of the more wearable pieces, like the knit mini dresses and swingy car coats, to my closet. Valentino was a very fresh departure from last season’s parade of pink. I especially adored the sleek 90s-inspired silhouettes, whether it was a square-neck dress or a sleek evening maxi paired with a minimalist tank.
On Business and Pleasure:
It would be a shame to be in Paris and not indulge in a little shopping, so if I have a spare moment between shows, I’ll hit up my favourite vintage stores like Thanx God I’m a V.I.P. or Gaijin Paris (where I snapped this picture), which specializes in Japanese vintage. I’ve also been known to pop into a gallery or art exhibition when there’s time. One of my favourites is L’Atelier Barncusi, which is an exact reconstruction of the artist’s studio. It’s a little wonderland of sculptures and drawings.
On the Perks of Paris:
There are too many amazing things about Paris Fashion Week to name, but I’ll never grow bored of the grand settings. It often pays to look up! More often than not there’s a ceiling or chandelier that will take your breath away. Even mundane spaces like the Apple Store (never forget an extra phone battery pack!) are often awe-inspiring in Paris.
