Mon dieu. The French have given up on the skinny jean
The French have given up on the skinny jean?
Apparently. So says Ellie Pithers of the Financial Times. Ms Pithers, who moved from London to Paris just a few weeks ago, reports that she took with her a capsule wardrobe of “French girl style” - “sharp-shouldered trenchcoats, sleek black blazers, white cotton shirts, cashmere pullovers and slim-legged denim”.
But in Paris, she found mini skirts, leather shorts, cargo pants and baggy jeans. “Not a skinny fit or a tailored blazer to be seen.”
Being a nosy journalist, Ms Pithers started to look for answers, not least from Eugénie Trochu, the newly installed head of editorial content at Vogue Paris.
What’s up with French girl style? she asked.
Ms Trochu responded as follows: “Especially since the pandemic, I have the feeling that Parisian style has evolved. When you are in the streets here, you don’t see any Jane Birkin, Inès de La Fressange or Brigitte Bardot clones. You see girls from everywhere wearing colours and power clothes and statement shoes. I think the French girl is not afraid any more to shine. She used sometimes to hide behind the effortless mood but I think it’s over.”
The word “effortless” seems to encapsulate a multitude of moods — daring, freewheeling liberte, cosmopolitanism, and yes…circularity.
With COP 26 coming up, circularity is of note. This shift towards recycling in the temper of French fashion must surely be welcomed. The article notes: “Last month, Printemps unveiled a new 1,300 sq m floor dedicated to ‘circularity’: alongside upcycled brands and repair stations, there is an attic’s worth of vintage and pre-owned exemplars, curated by Marie Blanchet of Mon Vintage.”
Originally published at https://www.rashmee.com on October 27, 2021.
