We'll always have Paris Fashion Week

Posted by Isabel Dexter at 09:16 on 29 Sep 2009

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One day to go until Paris Fashion Week... and counting. Whilst the PRs are having troubling negotiating with my changes-every-two-months address - especially as I've found my very own Shoreditch out in the 20th - I've decided none of my clothes are right. Despite a shopping spree chez Zadig & Voltaire (which included a Carl Barat viewing - wonder if he bought the Mick jumper), no less than three pairs of leather leggings/trouser/treggings, lots of black fitted dresses, a Balmain-shoulder (read Alexis Carrington from Dynasty) jacket and my new favourite purchase - a dark purple, scoop back Topshop lace body (worryingly I think I had a similar piece of clothing when I was 12 from Tammy Girl) - I am not feeling 'Paris' enough. I simply can't face trying to explain in French that this is the reason I need an overdraft. Do you think that, "But I like my money where I can see it - hanging in my closet," will suffice?

This was only exasperated by a chat with my Perfect Parisian girl who told me her idea of the worst possible taste was trying to look glamorous or sexy. I was wearing said lace body at the time with a very short bodycon skirt and Su Pollard-crossed-with-Madonna pale pink vintage leather ankle boots. "I never want to look vulgar," she added, making me suddenly wish I was wearing less make-up. In my defence I had on a black blazer and thick black tights as well. And, mon dieu - I was wearing a scarf. In September. And I'm a girl who wears sandals in the snow if the party calls for it.

And so, after watching The September Issue I've been trying to get in the zone (thanks Britney) by looking at my very talented photographer friend Pauline Auzou's pics from last season. If it doesn't 'exist' in black then it's not getting in, apparement. I adore the oversize clutch bags that look like sleepover-worthy make-up bags too. "Isn't elegance forgetting what one is wearing?" asked Yves Saint Laurent (though not to me obviously, especially as I would probably have been wearing something metallic or strapless at the time).  As the Parisians say "moins c'est plus" (less is more) or as an American Voguette put it in the film "September is the January in fashion." Let the countdown begin...

Photo courtesy of Pauline Auzou

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