French Fashion

While American fashion has evolved in recent decades to become a high powered industry, there is something so irresistible about the sophistication and innovation of European fashion markets.  Since the 16th century, France has been the epicenter of high fashion.  From the elegant designs of the old royal court to the stylish threads made by contemporary French Fashion Designers like Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, and Jean-Paul Gaulthier.

French Fashion can be described as being elegant.  From the couture style of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin to the experimental street style of Andre Courreges, french fashion is renowned for its sophisticated designs and innovative touches.  In 60s fashion, the French Fashion Designer Courreges developed a style that can be described as the moon girl look.  With sheer chiffon tops and clothes that contained controversial cut-outs and peep holes, this uniquely french fashion soon made huge waves in the fashion world.  Fashion items such as the thigh high skirts that were decked out in spacey white and silver colors dotted with geometric shapes continue to be striking examples of French Fashion.

One of the most fascinating aspects of French Fashion is the way it is embedded in French society.  Paris continues to be the Fashion Capital of the world and it is no surprise to see why.  Considering that Paris is home to a gigantic fabric industry that works with couture houses, French Fashion will always produce different styles that will push the envelope and influence future generations of fashion.  A country that understands the importance of fashion on popular culture, fashion is taken very seriously in France.

Its role in French society has led to many developments of fashion styles influenced by popular culture.  For example, the Left Bank Look developed in the 1960s inspired by the budding political student movement of the time.  A daring style that was representative of the look of people in the streets, the Left Bank Look popularized narrow skirts, narrow tops, berets, and stripes.  This is the style that is most commonly associated with french fashion and had its biggest icon in actress Brigitte Bardot.  This look can be classified as timeless and its sultry but playful style is guaranteed to turn heads.

Although French fashion lines like Dior and Louis Vuitton continue to represent the elegant element of french fashion, popular French Fashion today is an amalgamation of past styles.  New-rave fashions are a huge hit among boys while women are returning to a more modest, elegant look that is inspired by the 1950s.  With its thriving fashion industry and its reputation for having designers that have their finger to the pulse of emerging trends, you can expect french fashion to manufacture some of the most stylish fashions for generations to come!