Best of Fashion Week Street Style: Paris

Latest trends

Paris is always an exciting place to be. Most especially during fashion week, of course. The City of Lights and Romance Capital of the World turns into a runway filled with the best street style looks from the European and international fashion elite. Everyone who’s anyone, and anyone who’s lucky enough to be invited to the shows pulls out all the stops and shows off all the sartorial tricks up their sleeve for Paris Fashion Week.

New York is urban. London is a little bit rebellious. Milan is sensual sophistication. Paris is all about making a unique statement clothed in a whole lotta glam. Here are the best looks and coolest trends I’ve spotted:

Leather and Lace

Leather and lace is one of those unusual fashion combinations that totally works. It’s tough gal meets modern romantic, girly meets punk. The marriage of these two materials almost always result in stunning looks. Paris fashionistas take it up a notch with unexpected silhouettes and daring hemlines.

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Patent Animal Skin

Animal prints are pretty much wardrobe staples at this point. Take your love for animal skin to a more exotic and flamboyant level with the patent animal skin trend that positively ruled the Paris streets come fashion week. This trend isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re bold enough, you’re a shoo-in for the most stylish in the room. Just ask Anna Dello Russo.

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Sleek and Sophisticated

Black is the ultimate in sleek and sophisticated. However, you can expect a little bit more from Parisian stylistas when it comes to styling this reliably chic color. From adding emerald green cropped biker jackets, adding a blazer for a menswear twist, and donning this eponymous color in its most alluring form–in leather, black is a go-to color to look chic. All these looks are proof that black is far from boring.

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Sparkle and Shine

Embellishments like sequins and feathers need not be confined to evening wear. In fact, Paris fashion week street style has redefined evening wear and made it into everyday wear. Hey, if you have the confidence and panache to rock a fully embellished evening frock during the light of the day, then go for it. Parisian fashionistas are known to make their own rules after all. Only one rule applies: always be fabulous.

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Printastic

Not just all about florals and stripes, Paris Fashion Week showed us an array of eye-popping prints that have a definite “shock and awe” value. Graphic black and white geometric lines, textured chevron with a sheen, and layered bohemian prints are just some of the print combinations that you should try for yourself.

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Je ne sais quoi

Je ne sais quoi means “I don’t know what.” That’s the literal meaning. When one says ‘je ne sais quoi,’ it is used to describe someone’s desirability that stems from something intangible, something you can’t quite out your finger on. Paris Street Style has “je ne sais quoi” to a T. There is just something magical, and borderline otherworldly about the fashion choices that you are inspired to make whenever you find yourself in Paris. I mean, just take a look these amazing looks below. Giovanna Battaglia’s bell-like sleeves, and inexplicable lime green on lime green ensemble that surprisingly works, fur plus striped marsala–these are looks that look right at home on the trailblazing streets of Paris.

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Photos from Elle and Stylecaster

Best of Fashion Week Street Style: Milan

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Milan street style is a different kind of animal. If London is punk, New York is urban, Milan is eclectic meets sophisticated. I love how fashion week really gives fashion lovers an opportunity to delve into street style around the world. There’s so much to learn about style from the streets, and every year it just gets more and more exciting.

Italian women have long been heralded as one of the most stylish and elegant in the world. It’s high time we take notes from Milanese street style and adopt some of that “la dolce vita” into our personal style and wardrobe. Here are my top picks for the best in street style and top trends in Milan for fashion week Spring 2016:

Shoe Love

Italy is all about shoes, we all know that. The love for shoes runs long and deep in Italian culture and style, and Milan being the fashion capital of the country is the perfect stomping grounds for shoe lover from all over the world. Here are some snaps of some the most beautiful shoes this side of street style. Take note of the dominance of those bright blue shoe hues. Gorgeous!

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Bold Color

It’s easy to just wear neutrals all year-round, but sometimes going bold on color will go a long way. Keep your bold hues rich and jewel-toned to maintain that sophisticated Milan flair.

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Squad Goals

I saw a lot of stylish women in two’s and three’s in Milan. Whether fully coordinated in hues of camel and black, decked out in dreamy white flowing tops, or in complementary outerwear, these ladies know that when it comes to street style your whole squad can make an impact.

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Back to Back

Italian women pride themselves in a unique sense of style that departs from mainstream trends. Make an outfit feel even more unique and individual when you add unpredictable elements to your look. Make them look twice with back detailing that shows that you think about the overall 360 effect of your outfit. From back cut-outs to playful patch designs to even a button down worn in a whole new way, when you put your back into it, your style reaches a whole new peak.

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Italian Heritage

Missoni and Gucci are just two of the many illustrious fashion houses that call Italy their home. Get inspired by these heritage brands and sport some the signature Missoni colorful print or invest in some quality Italian leather to upgrade your ensemble of the day. Nothing like a beautiful piece of high quality Italian leather work to give your look an air of luxury.

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Expect the Unexpected

If there is one takeaway from Italian street style that you should integrate into your own style, it’s this: always leave room for sartorial surprises. Ballgown in the daytime? Why not? Hiking boots with a mini shirt dress? Oh yes. A cascading train worn with jeans is always a good idea. It’s in these unexpected pairings that you can truly find your one-of-a-kind style sensibility.

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Images from WMagazine and The Trendspotter

Best of Fashion Week Street Style: New York

Latest trends

It’s astounding how different one city can be from another. The four fashion capitals, New York, Paris, Milan, and London, all have distinctive styles. I’m going to explore that with my series of blogs about Fashion Week street style.

Street style blogs have a cult following for a reason. It captures individual style and it captures the feeling, mood and personality of that particular moment. Where you live affects your sartorial choices, and I want to explore that through these blogs. I’ve curated images, which stand out for its sense of style as well as that unique New York feeling. New York is urban and straight forward, just like these stylistas. Here are my picks:

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Magazine editor Joanna Hillman isn’t afraid to wear two bohemian trends together. Billowy floral sleeves and fringe never looked this good together.

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I love this chic yet subtle take on color blocking. It’s a different way to dress up in warm colors when it’s autumn.

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Hanneli Mustaparta bucks the fashion rules dons a pair of floral overalls with gusto.

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Look closely and you’ll see 3 different kinds of graphic stripe in this look. So edgy.

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Model Lindsey Wixson nails Brooklyn cool in this ensemble. Love the brown belt and wide brim hat.

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The architectural feel of the check print and especially the shoes reflects the New York skyline. But just like the city, there’s an unpredictable element. How amazing is that pink furry clutch?!

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Make  a bold statement in Moschino.

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No shame in the matchy-matchy game. Start a new trend when you match your bright top with equally bright-hued sunglasses.

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There’s no reason why culottes can’t be done up in leather. That plus sheer sleeves equals edgy glamour.

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Editor Christine Centenera makes a strong case for pinstripes in this fashion forward look. Mostly black and navy, but never boring.

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Sweater dressing gets elevated with stark white masculine oxfords.

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This outfit is Upper East Side Gossip Girl style with a dash of modern. The white sneakers and ribbed turtleneck definitely put a trendy spin on the matching tailored blazer and shorts look.

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Nothing says downtown cool girl like an unexpected outfit pairing. A standard striped Breton shirt gets upgraded by a tiered ruffle skirt.

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Chiara Ferragni of the Blonde Salad blog looks adorable in this earthy 70s inspired look.

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Leandra Medine of the Man Repeller shows us her unique style yet again. Sequined Rugby shirts have never looked this chic.

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Stylist Liz Uy is an example of fashion excess done right. Printed platforms, oversized cuffed jeans, fringed clutch, and kimono tunic doesn’t sound like it should work, but it does.

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Irene Kim, Chriselle Lim, and Aimee Song = #squadgoals

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Go big or go home. Fringe plus voluminous culottes is the definition of full throttle fashion.

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Military green parkas are basically a staple in any city gal’s wardrobe. Here is a new and refreshing way to wear ’em.

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White T-shirt is a casual must-have. Knot it to the side and tuck it in, style it further with a printed blazer and you’ve got a winner.

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Contrast the trendiness of your It bag with a quirky vintage print and a ladylike classic bun.

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New Yorkers are always in black. Black + dark denim looks extra polished with the addition of a classic leather belt.

Photos from Harper’s Bazaar