A glimpse at Paris fashion week

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Nothing compares to Paris.

I got my first taste of Paris from my high school idol, Carrie Bradshaw. In the final two episodes of “Sex and the City,” Carrie moves to Paris with her artsy boyfriend Aleksandr Petrovsky, fully expecting to live in a French fairy tale complete with Chanel, croissants and red wine.

We all know this doesn’t quite pan out. “Mr. Big” follows Carrie to Paris to sweep her off her feet, taking her back to New York and telling her, “You’re the one, Carrie.” 
Despite the classic story, I was partially distracted by the surreal fashion Carrie encountered during her brief stay in The City of Light. She quickly adjusted her style to look more French — full-skirted ballerina gowns, felt berets, sky-high heels and vintage accessories — and as a naïve pre-teen, I was certain all French girls dressed this way.

How could Carrie lead me astray?

Of course, not everyone in Paris has Carrie’s bank account, nor do they wear brand-new white pumps on a stroll through the grimy city streets. But the French vibe I still feel each time I watch the series finale is more than accurate. Paris really is the most chic place in the world, and Paris fashion week is, in turn, the best part of each season.

When it comes to “French” designers, there are always going to be the household names — Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Valentino — but one of the most highly anticipated PFW shows each season is Céline.

Ever since Phoebe Philo took over as creative director in 2008, Céline has been at the top of everyone’s list of fashion week favorites. The clothes are genius, but quietly so; inventive, yet wearable; effortless, yet statement-making.

Explaining why Céline is so consistently on-point is another issue entirely. How has Philo managed to design minimal, no-frills clothes that also feel so refreshing and brand-new? Designers around the world are surely scratching their heads wondering, “Why didn’t I think of those boots/floppy clutches/cocoon coats/insert Céline-ism here?”

While the fall 2012 and spring 2013 collections were show stopping -- we’re still craving striped fur coats and floaty silks -- the latest Céline show was even more impressive.

It’s hard to really analyze a show without being there in person, but looking at close-up detail shots makes it a little easier to understand what Philo was going for. Fabrics were tactile, cushy and soft, frequently in the form of shaved fur or bouclé. The color palette ranged from pale neutrals to bold checks, and dresses and coats appeared to have their sleeves yanked forward and tied into knots.

Shirts were topped off with large, unfinished bands of fabric, like ultra-chic straitjackets. Sweater and coat sleeves drooped over models’ hands. Handbags were large rectangles, folded up and clutched in the coolest way possible.

The trend book sitting on every seat at the Céline show reportedly displayed Philo’s inspiration for the collection: clouds, yarn, 15th-century Flemish paintings and portraits. We may not have access to these images, but after viewing the collection, it’s easy to use our imaginations. 

I may not be able to afford Céline anytime soon, but by channeling the collection’s cool, easy attitude — and throwing in some Carrie Bradshaw for good measure — maybe I’ll feel a little more Parisian.   

­— emfarra@indiana.edu