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london , paris
pat r i c k
Jessie Brooks discusses the correlation between two major capital cities , their relationship with Fashion Week and what not to do if you meet Patrick Demarchelier .
As a Fashion Week intern , no twodays are the same , and no matter how much we plan , nothing is guaranteed to run on time . How am I to know that it ’ s not okay to stroke Patrick Demarchelier ’ s hair when having a picture with him ?
But of course , it is nothing short of entirely my fault when decides he doesn ’ t want to stay at the party any longer . No two days are the same but as I explore fashion week in the rest of the world I realise the same issues occur worldwide but boy , do we handle them differently . I now start to wonder , what does Fashion Week mean to us ? As a born and bred Londoner , I am confident in saying that we have ( by far ) the best street style in the entire world and our patriotic side is what makes British fashion known as super cool . However , with all of that said , I can ’ t help but admit that no matter how cool our outfits look , we will never carry ourselves quite as cool as the Parisians do .
When working the catwalks , season after season I see central London ’ s streets look just as busy and just as brutal as always , no please or thank you and if you ’ re unfortunate enough to get shoved by an angry commuter then please do make your life easier by trying not to expect an apology - London is always in a rush and we make no apologies for it . No matter how light hearted you are , you will manage to get caught up in the rush of the London streets and if you stick your head up for a moment you will notice that fashion week is nothing but a disruption for the heart of the city . Fashion week is somehow over looked in London . Unless you are a hardcore fashion fan girl or , you ’ re a part of the event itself , the whole thing appears to the rest of
Fashion Scout Paris Showroom
London ’ s population as a nuisance and not much more . Paris on the other hand is a whole different ball game , walking the streets feels like leisurely stroll and people seem placid and willing to acknowledge those around them . The rush isn ’ t present the way it is in London and Fashion Week doesn ’ t feel like its interrupting everyone ’ s day , the commuters are happy to smile and appreciate the parade of 6ft something ’ s waltzing around the metro lines and turning heads . The shop owners even greet you each morning with ‘ happy fashion week !’.
Working life in each of the cities is so mind blowingly ’ different , I never realised that the same job role I have been doing for 3 years could feel so daunting . Within 10 minutes of pulling in at Gare Du Nord , I could tell stepping off the Eurostar was going to change the way I work forever . Everywhere I looked there was effortless style and a sense of great taste in everyone that strolled past us . From the train station I made my way straight to the office to set up camp . On my journey there , I realised the city was not named the Fashion capital by accident , every street I walk is appreciated by my artistic side and its apparent where the difference lies between the two capital cities . Paris looks , dresses and celebrates fashion , London effortlessly wears fashion but the majority of citizens just put up with it . My theory is if you take the fashion out of London , street style continues and not much changes , London will continue to be one of the greatest cities in the world and the citizens will continue to be not so bothered about whether fashion is present or not . If you take the Fashion out of Paris , there will be a whole left in the city that oozes style .
TEXT & IMAGES : JESSIE BROOKES ILLUSTRATIONS : MAYANG ADISTA PUTRI