Nowhere else were new styles so paraded and so appreciated as they were in 18th-century and 19th-century Paris; nowhere else did fashion have such prestige, or generate such an institutional life of its own, or maintain such friendly connections with the other, less ephemeral arts. It is reasons such as these that account for the triumph of Parisian couture, rather than supposedly unique qualities of invention and craftsmanship.
The question about how Paris has managed to acquire its supremacy as the international Capital of style, and why, in spite of its relative decline, has been able to maintain such a commanding position, has been briefly answered by Valerie Steele, who says that Paris fashion has flourished because it has a more highly developed “fashion culture” than any comparable metropolitan centre.
Paris and fashion have been closely associated for so long that the link between them
must sometimes seem like a fact of nature. But of course, it isn’t. It is the phenomenon in terms of social values and culture that has brought about this evolution.
Paris seems to be having a potential to turn everything into a creative element. Inspiration can be found anywhere in Paris, it is the land where the old and the new names in fashion are born. There’s something about the people, their culture and social values, their exquisite lifestyles of wine and dine, arts and social gatherings which in turn prove them to be sophisticated, fashionable people.
“The Mecca of Fashion” as Paris is also known, is the hometown of French “grand
couturiers” of the likes of Cardin, Dior, Chanel, Yves St. Laurent, Christian Lacroix and as a focal point in the world of fashion, it has also drawn other top designers to base there, such as Japanese Kenzo, Italian Armani and Versace.
To dress oneself completely in these labels, a deep wallet is required. However, even
though attention to what people wear is given, everyone in Paris wouldn’t be strutting in these labels. It may be the place for style, but there are no strict dress codes in this city and just like anywhere else in the world, in Paris, the way of dressing usually depends on one’s job or weather.
Paris looks at fashion through arts and literature. Parisian boulevards and theaters are an important factor in their lives, this leading to the rise of department stores in the 1830’s in which fascinating fashion publications already began shooting up.
At the end of the day, it is Paris who decides which fashions will live or die.
