When people think of Paris many stereotypes come to mind, a common one is that of the fashionable Frenchwoman.  The reason we envision Parisian style to be so effortlessly stylish without even having stepped on French soil is because of Paris’ reputation as one of the leading cities in global fashion, making up the “big four” along with New York City, London, and Milan. Though there are those who believe Paris to be worthy of the title Fashion Capital of the World, here’s why.

 

The History of French Fashion

 

 

The association of France with fashion and style (la mode) dates largely to the reign of Louis XIV. Back then the luxury goods in France were under royal control and the French royal court became, arguably, the arbiter of taste and style in Europe. Louis XIV introduced one of the most noted accessories to men’s fashion of the time: immense wigs of curled hair. The extravagant styles of the French Royal court led the courtiers to run up enormous debts to keep up the pace (wigs don’t grow on trees), at the peasant’s expense. Such fashion sprees led to the ruin of Marie Antoinette’s reputation, and were one of the many factors paving the way for the French Revolution.

 

 

Initially, it was the rich and powerful telling the designers what they wanted to wear in clothes, but in the 19th century, this changed. It was, surprisingly, an Englishman working in Paris who became the father of modern Haute Couture; Charles Worth put his name on his clothing labels and even displaying his work on live models. From then on, designers were the ones to dictate what was hot and what was not.

 

French Fashion Innovations

 

The “little black dress”, considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women, was invented in Paris by Coco Chanel in the 1920s. The simple, relatively short and versatile garment is now considered an essential element of any woman’s wardrobe. Prior to the 1920s black was often reserved for periods of mourning and considered indecent when worn outside such circumstances, but the emergence of the “LBD” changed that. Vogue magazine called it “a sort of uniform for all women of taste”.

 

Need an example of the simplicity of Parisian fashion? How about four triangles of cloth, is that simple enough for you? The bikini was invented in Paris by the French automobile engineer Louis Réard. Competing to produce the world’s smallest swimsuit with Jacques Heim, Réard found inspiration on the beaches of St. Tropez and introduced the bikini as we know it in Paris on July 5, 1946.

 

Couture in Paris Now

 

The Paris Fashion Week, a fashion industry event which allows fashion designers to display their latest collections in runway shows, is the finale of the “big four” fashion weeks. Held predominantly in the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris fashion week helps dictate the next season’s trends.

 

A shopping district in Paris dedicated exclusively to high fashion clothes and accessories, “the golden triangle is an area between the Avenue Marceau, the Champs-Elysées and the Avenue Montaigne. In it, you will find the presence of luxury goods retailers such as Dior, Givenchy, Vuitton, Celine, Chanel, Donna Karan, Rochas, and Hermes, for starters.

 

Yes, Paris is home to some of the most beautiful and iconic historic structures in the world, but if you’re well versed in fashion, there’s another kind of beauty that awaits you. Paris isn’t only France’s capital; it’s also fashion’s capital.

 

What do you think of Parisian fashion? Is the stereotype well deserved?