Paris Fashion Week here we come!
Anyone in the fashion industry can tell you, fashion week – or rather fashion month – is a marathon. As an editor, the expectation is for us to run between shows and presentations (sometimes we go to around 15 appointments a day) and write up the trends we see on the runway, all while looking worthy of the high-fashion brands showcasing on the runways themselves.
And when it comes to Paris Fashion Week, the stakes are higher than any others — it's not called the capital of fashion for nothing. From the A-List stars that flock in from all over the world (Rami Malek and Bella Hadid have already been spotted in Paris) to the sometimes-outrageous fashion on the runway (we can't wait to see what Schiaparelli has in store), there's a lot of pressure to match the looks being served in the fashion mecca this coming week.
In particular, we're looking forward to Copenhagen brand Ganni's first-ever show on the Paris Fashion Week calendar and Alessandro Michele's first show for Valentino since he left his tenure at Gucci.
Unfortunately, the weather is not looking nearly as exciting – and unpredictable September temperatures always calls for creative packing. Thankfully, nearly a decade of dressing for fashion weeks has taught me a thing or two about finding the balance between the stylish and practical.
Below, check out what I'll be packing as I head to ‘Paree’!
When it comes to bags, I find it to be the easiest way to incorporate an interesting pop of colour to a monochromatic look. I've always gravitated towards either super-bright hues like canary yellow or magenta, or ‘in-between’ colours like mint or aubergine. The idea is to brighten up a muted look and draw the eye to one spot in the outfit. I've got plenty of colour-pop bags in my suitcase right now!
It's no wonder the Alaia ballet flats were all the rage last season. As editors, we're sprinting from appointment to appointment, often hiking up and down the stairs to take the metro, so comfortable shoes are a must! I try to wear flats where I can and thanks to the ballet flat craze, there are plenty I'll be bringing with me this season.
Fashion Week might be the only time of year when it's acceptable — no, encouraged! — to dress to the nines in broad daylight, which means putting on any statement pieces you've been eyeing. A chunky, OTT knit? Definitely. A bright top shaped like a flower? You bet. I've brought along some graphic skirts and very ‘fashion’ tops that I cannot wait to wear.
I have a soft spot for interesting knits because I don't fare well in the cold – so a chunky or bright knit has always been a key item in my fashion formula. It's an easy piece to style too, with jeans, leather trousers or skirts. A highlighter-hued jumper can brighten up any old outfit – this season I'm particularly into the ‘Unexpected Blue Theory’, which says a dash of cobalt blue can transform a look. I'm all for it.
What does one wear when it's 8 degrees in the morning, 20 degrees during the day and you've got 10 appointments in between? Layers. A beautiful scarf is a great way to add to an outfit while also being a much-needed layer for when days suddenly get chilly. I'm never without at least three scarves in my suitcase in varying weights, as a way to layer on depending on the day. I'm partial to those from Dries Van Noten because they're always crafted so beautifully, they could easily be a statement piece on their own.
Move over Brat green, there's a new hue on our radar.
