Les couleurs parisiennes.

On my recent trip to Paris, I was astonished at the range, diversity, and vivacity of colours and prints popping out of every window display I walked by.

Fashion was of course one of my primary inspirations for my trip, and as I was boarding my Air France flight I was expecting to find plenty of neutrals and monochromes with the occasional splash of a coloured accessory, but I was certainly not expecting SO MUCH COLOUR.

I’ll add one caveat; what I saw in department stores and boutiques—ranging from Mango, Galleries La Fayette and Le Bon March è, to Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior—did not quite translate to the style I found on the streets.

From what I observed, French women tend to opt for a base of neutrals or monochromes and offset those with a brightly coloured or stunningly printed top or accessory. The #1 accessory among women (and men—so dapper!) is a scarf. Women opt for beautifully coordinated, often silk, prints and patterns (think Hermès) that complement the colours in their outfits, while men typically wear more understated colours and prints that blend in with their impeccably tailored dinner jackets or blazers—très chic! On a side-note I have never encountered as many stylishly dressed men (think old world Ralph Lauren), as I did in the cafés and streets of Paris.

One other fun fact—the shoes are never an afterthought—they are as much a part of the ensemble as the scarf or blazer and as such equally carefully coordinated with the rest of the look. If an outfit features predominately browns, the shoes will also be a shade of brown; if the look is pastel, the shoes will be as well!

Et voila, a quick synopsis of les couleurs parisiennes!

S.K.

La Galerie Dior.

If you have an appreciation for beauty and fashion you MUST, MUST, MUST see the Galerie Dior next time you are in Paris.

Located at the original headquarters of Maison Christian Dior Couture near 30 Avenue Montaigne, the La Galerie is a most beautifully curated collection of spaces, artifacts, memories, and most importantly dresses commemorating the legacy of Christian Dior and showcasing some of the work of his successors.

I gained an entirely new appreciation for this iconic designer after reading his biography—his love of excellence and beauty in fashion was unparalleled, and his devotion to those qualities propelled him to revive the Haute Couture scene in Paris after it was perilously close to vanishing after World War 2.

His New Look collection in 1947, featuring rounded shoulders, cinched waists, and ultra-voluminous skirts took the world by storm and revived beauty in fashion—and women’s wardrobes—after the war.

Since launching The New Look, he never wavered from his commitment to ‘make women not only more beautiful, but happier’ through his designs, and never compromised his values regardless of changing trends.

He was loved by those who knew him for his loyalty, humility, and championing others’ artistic endeavours. He also had a great deal of respect for his fellow designers including Cristobal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, and Madeleine Vionnet.

Beyond that he adored nature—particularly flowers, was an avid gardener after his mother, and featured botanical themes in many of his designs.

A trip to Paris would simply be incomplete without paying a visit to the spectacular Maison of Christian Dior.

S.K.