An Ode To Street Fashion
Maybe it’s because we’ve been in lockdowns and quarantines for a year, but stumbling upon the Instagram account @parisiensinparis filled me with unbridled joy.
Yes, we’ve been able to view catwalks and new drops via digital shows and whilst the fashion world did stop, it didn't really stop, seeing street style put together by real people feels like a breath of fresh air.
Why is there so much joy in the voyeuristic act of people watching? There’s nothing like being sat in a coffee shop or making your humble commute on public transport and assessing everyone in the vicinity.
I won’t try to romanticise public transport, I mean we are all so comfortable working from home now, but what I miss are the small things like getting random outfit inspirations in the most mundane moments. Right now fashion is fed to us through algorithms, every time you open Instagram of course you’ll see garments you like - that’s what the app wants to show you!
But, stumbling upon this account and seeing real people emerging into the city feels real and more exciting than a catwalk show. Not every outfit on the account is revolutionary, it doesn’t need to be. Just seeing humans living their life in a city after a long and quiet year is the fashion show we all need right now.
Each outfit can be dissected with questions. Where are they going? Why did they choose those shoes? Why that bag? I suppose you could also ask these questions of fashion houses and couture shows, but the answers will never be as functional or personal as those of street style.
Scrolling through @parisiensinparis will whisk you into a chic world of real moments that have been put on hold for a year or so. If Paris isn’t to your liking, there’s also @londonersinlondon_ and @milanesiamilano. These accounts are a delight to spend time scrolling through, they replicate those moments we had pre-covid where we would stop and double-take someone's outfit.
Perhaps it’s because street style seems somewhat more attainable to the average person like me, but flipping through these accounts feels more exciting than that of a brand’s page. Seeing the mix-match styles brought together out of someone's mind is fascinating. Maybe they meticulously planned the outfit? Maybe it was thrown together five minutes before leaving? Who knows, and quite frankly, who cares?
This isn’t an essay to diss fashion brands, who would we be without them, but to highlight the joys of street style and the diversity that comes with it. If you go from account to account you will see the general trend and styles change as the city does. From the stereotypical French girl fashion to the daring London street style, there’s so much to learn from.
Hopefully soon we will live in a world where our street style inspiration won’t come from a screen, but until then I’m glad we can keep it alive.
