Vicky Tiel’s Paris Journal: “Ten Things To Know About Paris Fashion”

Parisiennes love fashion, and for the last two years, the top restaurants where tres chic women could make their high fashion entrances were often closed. The Louvre lost 40 million euros as tourists failed to come, but Spring 2022 is full of promise and joy as all the top restaurants, galleries, and luxury shops have reopened.

The fashion tourists have jumped onto the planes, and the hot dress shops are READY. The top ten things to buy for ÉTÉ are indicated below, and they are in every shop as artist-designers were locked out of making an entrance at La Société for way too long.

TEN THINGS

1. The 1960s Are Back Sexier Than Ever
2. Bare Anything
3. Your Tennis Shoes Are Your Art Collection
4. Scarves Are It, Draped As You Like
5. Express Yourself On Your T-shirt
6. Electric Colors
7. Older Women Wearing A Vintage Mix
8. Showing Off At Your Paris Hangout…Le Flandrin, L’Atlas, Flore or Deux Magots
9. You Are Your Coat
10. Be A Movie Star In Ruffles Galor
    

1. THE SIXTIES ARE BACK SEXIER THAN EVER

Having my fashion start in Paris in the Sixties, I know the Sixties well. It was an “Anything Goes” time. Our Mothers could hardly say that as they were all bound up in girdles and suffocating hard cotton bras. The Paris Fashion Sixties had the soft bra designed by my Parsons teacher Rudi Gernweich highlighted by showing off as many body parts, knees, necklines, shoulders, and derrières.

I remember dressing Brigitte Bardot when my Paris shop on Rue Bonaparte opened in 1968 and finding her in my dressing room not wearing any underwear. My design life never recovered as well as my personal life. Brigitte was wearing over nothing that day, a babydoll dress with ruffles galore, in a sweetie pie baby blue gingham check, a dress designed by Louis Feraud (my design partner Mia’s French husband).

Our shop, Mia Vicky, then decided to do our naked shopping bags in 1969, which was a big hit, and Yves St Laurent followed with a giant framed nude portrait of himself at the entrance of his shop.

Today the nude sixties are back. The bare midriff 1969 black leather mini over sexy pantyhose with a hot pink maxi taffeta coat and a T-shirt that says ROCK ME UP would be perfect to wear to the Cafe Flore to excite fashion journalists. The best time to see new fashion is tea time/ champagne time at the Cafe Flore.

2. BARE ANYTHING

Justin’s wife, Hailey Bieber, has risen to the top as a fashion influencer by baring it all. Her figure and waistline have sent all my US young friends for the stomach operation.

3. YOUR TENNIS SHOES ARE YOUR ART COLLECTION

Wearing Art on your Toes is Brand New, and the latest Designer Tennis Shoes have replaced 1000$ Vuitton gold heels. Having the most unusual shoe design is a challenge, but not in Paris, where arty shoes win hands down. Wear them with white pants all summer with an electric-colored top with a significant saying across your bust describing your day as “The Look.”

4. SCARVES ARE IT, DRAPED AS YOU LIKE

The big scarf look started in the Spring with windy days and the French draping their scarves to express themselves. French women collect scarves of all sizes, especially Hermès ( if you are tres chic, you own 12 Hermès Scarves, one for each month.)

5. EXPRESS YOURSELF ON YOUR T-SHIRT

The T-shirt with your “who I am” mood drawn in a circle on your bust has been the “it look” during the pandemic, and now it continues in electric colors for summer. It is topped with a great maxi coat, and a “fashion is fun” summer hat. The world has been in a dreary mood as fashion tries to lift up our spirits and sell us some happiness.

6. ELECTRIC COLORS

Electric colors continue for Spring and summer as beige, brown, and English greige posh trench coats have seen their day. Au Revoir to sad colors.

7. OLDER WOMEN WEARING A VINTAGE MIX

Older French Women have gone Fashion Brave as they lived through the worst time of their lives, only to find their favorite restaurant closed for months and no pink champagne or grey babies caviar at Le Flandrine.

8. SHOWING OFF AT YOUR PARIS HANGOUT WITH AN ENTRANCE COAT

9. YOU ARE YOUR COAT

The Coat will continue to be the Fashion Statement, from coats that look like you are a Queen with a beaded mini underneath to a coat that says it all. If you buy only one thing for Spring/Summer, have it be another Grand Coat to wear when you make your grand entrance at the Flore or La Société. It’s who you are. MY COAT IS ME. I’m electric. You just should not wear boring colors.

10. BE A MOVIE STAR IN RUFFLES GALORE

Ruffles Galore, Paris windows can’t get enough of them. Ruffles signify HAPPY DAYS ARE AHEAD. Women dressing like teenagers would be my take on Paris fashion and using Fashion To Help Simulate Happiness?

Happiness is the key to Fashion This Summer.

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