Paris Fashion Capitol of the World Essay Example For Students

Paris Fashion Capitol of the World Essay In this essay, I will discuss how the Paris, France, came to be the first fashion capital of the world. It will also look at and discuss if Paris is still considered the most important fashion city today. I will also explore how other fashion cities, such as New York, Milan and London, compared to Paris by looking at their differences and similarities such as read-to-wear lines and how each city had a certain time period where they were established as fashion cities. Firstly the discussion will be around how Paris became so involved in Fashion and why people were so drawn to the Parisian style. Leading on from that I will look into New York, London and Milan and how each of these major fashion cities played a part in affecting Paris. To conclude, I will investigate whether Paris still remains as the most important fashion city today. Main Body Parisian fashion dates back to the 1800s, during the Victorian era, when people would have clothing hand made for them to show their wealth. Women who had clothes made for them, were the women who were high in social class, had money to spend and were up to date with the latest fashion trends. In those days it was easier to identify an individuals class because clothes were handed down when they went out of fashion. Norma Rantisi, writer of How New York Stole Modern Fashion ?, discusses Haute Couture and the first haute couturier, she wrote The use of the Haute Couture label by fashion houses was regulated by commission, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, which advocated on behalf of couture houses with respect to intellectual property rights, labour issues, foreign relations, advertising and the coordination of the fashion shows. Although the first couture house in Paris was formally introduced by Charles Worth in the mid-1800s, the significance of fashion as a marker of distinction was popularized by the French court at Versailles as early as the eighteenth century? (Rantisi, 2006:115). What Rantisi is trying to communicate is that fashion had been around a lot longer before than 19th century, but fashions were different before this time. Women of high class had to follow strict lifestyles, and had to dress to show their husbands wealth. Haute Couture was only starting to be recognized when Charles Frederick Worth, an English fashion designer, came to Paris and changed the way fashion was consumed. Before women would tell tailors what they wanted and how it was to be made. Worth created for clientele but he designed and made clothes that he thought was best suited for that person. He would not let his clients have a say in what they can and cannot wear. This is where Paris and fashion evolved and everyone wanted a little piece of Parisian style. Paris continued to create high end fashion till the end of the Victorian period, through the belle Apoque, the 1920s and the 1930s. The Americans would travel to Paris to purchase Haute Couture clothing and pay full price, whereas Parisian People of high social status, models and actresses would expect favors and free offers. Valerie Steele, author, stated in her book- Paris Fashion, A cultural history, The 1960s Youth Quake? may have launched an irreversible shift away from Paris fashion leadership. Think Mary Quant and the miniskirt. Not only did London temporarily supplant Paris as the center of fashion, but it fostered a movement away from the couture and towards ready-to-wear, which placed the American fashion Industry in a vastly strengthened position. In the 1970s Milan challenged Paris. ? (Steele, 1998:7). Steele is expressing is that other cities were given the chance to work their way into the fashion world. This was due to out of hand circumstances that Paris couturiers could not control. The World Wars were the start of Pariss decline in existing as the fashion capital. After the second world war, in the early 60s, London took a step up and Mary Quants miniskirt and the shift dress swung into fashion and London joined the competition to be the worlds fashion capital. A couple of years later Milan joins the scene with a chic new style of cool, bringing designers such as Valentino, Armani and Versace into the light. New York grew and became a fashion city in the 1940s, Manhattans 7th Avenue, became the garment district, this is where the industry took root. Advertising and Fashion Retailing Project Report EssayMilan Ready-to-wear designers stopped showing their lines in Florence and started up shows in Milan, this is how Milan came to be one of the ?Big Four. In the 70s Milan found it easy to thrive in the fashion world because labour costs were cheap, therefore more designers could create small/medium production businesses, to create their lines. Italy was a threat to Paris because demand for haute couture was in the decline and more consumers increasing the demand for leisure and informal wear. Many people today argue that Paris still has a very influential effect on the fashion world. Parisian style is one that everyone recognises and designers still look to for inspiration. Every couple of years diluted versions of Parisian trends have been seen in fashion lines that have trickle down into the high street market. This is a popular trend among younger generations. AgnAs Rocamora, writer, wrote in her piece ?Paris, Capitale de la Mode, In the French media, fashion still means Paris. Regularly anchoring fashion to the Parisian territory, the media have long naturalized the signifying relation between the French capital and la mode. (Rocamora, 2006:44). What Rocamora is explaining is that Parisian Couturiers, fashion writers and journalists all agree that Paris is still the most important fashion city. Paris fashion is talked about a lot in the press, media and all the time in magazines. So in theory they are promoting themselves as being the creators of fashion and showing that true Haute Couture fashion can only exists in Paris, keeping them in their position as one of the most important cities in fashion. Therefore the French and Paris see themselves as the most influential and important, but there are also facts and opinions expressing that Paris can no longer be the most important fashion city. There are numerous arguments against the fact that Paris is the most important fashion city. Since New York, London and Milan were established as fashion cities, they have produced various couturiers to show that high end fashion does not just come from Paris. But the focus more in these cities is fast, practical fashion from ready-to-wear lines which trickle down into mass production and high street. Valerie Steele, Author, stated in her book ?Paris fashion cultural history In 1987, Accent, The magazine of Paris style featured an article entitled Is Paris Still the Capital of Style? ? according to the author, The French capital may no longer hold the title alone. The designers, journalists, and retailers interviewed agreed that, Today, designers in London, Milan, Tokyo and New York can no longer be ignored. And yet, many fashion professionals kept coming back to the idea that Paris is not the only fashion city, but High Fashion takes place only in Paris  ¦ Its something in the air  ¦ Yves Saint Laurent and Madame GrAs wouldnt have been possible anywhere but Paris  ¦ Paris is where its happening. ? (Steele, 1998:7) Steele is saying that the fashion world is not just dominated by Paris; we have to take into consideration the upcoming cities that are growing and expanding to be able to create fashion within them. Although people still push the fact that only high end couture can be made in Paris, New York, Milan and London are being recognized as big players in the industry. Conclusion To conclude I found that Paris was a very influential city in the early 1900s with the likes of Worth who had a new approach to fashion and gave it a new edge. With New York, London and Milan growing all the time, they also had an influence on new forms of fashion and the creation of fast fashion, which threatened Paris and Haute Couture. Paris is still a major fashion city, and Haute Couture can only be made in Paris. But Paris is not the most important fashion city, hence why the name the ?Big Four was introduced, London, New York, Paris and Milan make up this quartet. These cities can no longer be disregarded, they fought their way into the fashion world at different time periods, and change fashion in their own unique way. Paris can no longer stand alone as the only and most important fashion city.