London and Paris are like night and day. From the cuisine, to the arts, to the way the people interact as they go about their daily lives, the two cities have distinct styles. The lines of these distinctions, however, are muddled when it comes to the way the locals dress themselves. Fashion is a global concept, and London and Paris share some key elements between their closets.
London’s sartorial style is often associated with the rebellious spirit that stems from its rocker roots. It’s no longer the ‘60s, but this spirit still lingers in London street fashion, most evidently in Dr Martens’ still booming business.
A stark contrast from the grunge in most London streetwear is the flowy, long silhouette with sneakers combo you’ll encounter at least one woman sporting everywhere you go.
These ladies visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum both completed their looks with light outerwear well-suited for the fickle weather. One is in vibrant colors while the other is in black and white, but both have a bright energy.
Also frequently spotted in London: sheer tights. This trend, which has recently regained a lot of its popularity in several countries, is a bit more on-brand for the city’s rocker roots.
Sheer tights, or pantyhose, have always been a useful addition to work or church attire, but they have found their way back to the streets. Just a few steps away from street art, this woman shows her street fashion style. I love how she combines numerous staples — a denim jacket, tights and legendary Docs — to create this timeless monochromatic look.
Across the pond, gone is the idea of the Parisian girl in a striped shirt and beret. As you stroll down the streets of Paris, you’ll see women in business chic with their well-tailored suits and blouses. A little less obvious but definitely present is a similar flowy silhouette and sneaker duo. What sets it apart from the outfit as seen in London is the delicate vibe.
After casting down her lunch break cigarette, this woman poses in her long floral dress, brown jacket and white sneakers. As opposed to the bolder and brighter outfits of a similar style in London, the dainty floral pattern and neutral outerwear create a Parisian feel.
Rather than a dress, this woman wears a long skirt paired with sneakers as she completes her shopping in the 2nd arrondissement, creating a similar flowy silhouette. Although she’s finished her look with a leather jacket, the color and texture of the skirt creates an overall delicate and feminine outfit.
Sheer tights are every present on the streets of Paris too. This woman makes her tights fun and flirty with a patterned throw and detailed skirt.
It’s interesting to find that despite the cultural differences, there are a lot of similarities between Paris and London fashion. I feel like the weather and living in a big city is a big part of those similarities. Coming from Florida, I’d be hesitant to pair a long dress with sneakers, but with the rain and daily public transportation in both cities, sensible footwear is key. Paris attire holds onto its more elegant and dainty appeal while London’s possesses a bit more of an edge, but fashion-wise, the two aren’t as different as they seem.
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