Submitted by Alex Culley on the 2024 Winter FASH program in Paris, France…
Paris: the fashion capital of the world and home to legendary couture brands such as Dior, Chanel, and Hermês. However, as a college student, my band account shakes in fear if I even think about buying from these stores. But there are definitely places I can afford – thrift stores!
Paris’ rich history pervades every street and practically oozes from the architecture; you can’t walk more than two buildings without seeing its historic and iconic architecture. Window grates, molding, cornices, and even carvings of faces protrude from the stone walls that define the city. It was clear with every step I was far far away from home. But, I’d expected this difference; nobody goes to Paris expecting to see the sidings, bricks, and drywall that line the streets of Delaware. What I hadn’t anticipated was how this affects the size of stores.
Paris has strict laws on altering the architecture of its buildings. You need express permission from the city to knock out an interior wall, add an elevator, or even install air conditioning. What this means is most of the stores are small. All the shops I’ve been in are barely even ten steps from end to end, in fact, they’re smaller than quite a few of UD’s classrooms. It was disorienting
to say the least. I’m used to big buildings with large open spaces and aisles large enough for two shopping carts to move through. These stores have narrow walkways and it felt like I would knock into something if I breathed too deeply. Despite their size I was in absolute awe. Every store is highly curated to fit a certain aesthetic, even thrift stores. Once again, this was a totally different experience for me.
When walking into the Goodwills at home my footsteps practically echo due to their huge size and near endless racks of graphic t-shirts (ranging from popular media to a design for someone’s family reunion) and denim in all styles. The dress racks carry a variety from 80s prom dresses to simple slips to a bridesmaid dress. It feels like you’ll never know what you’ll get, it’s always a hunt for the good items. Here you walk into a vintage store and it’s like walking into someone’s private collection, a clear aesthetic or theme dictates the store. Stores that are entirely second hand designer (no, seriously there was a Dior dress there for €250), or are filled with more of a funky eclectic style.
It’s clear that here in Paris, owning a boutique isn’t just a business but an art form. Street view windows display the products that embody their overall vibe, pulling customers in. Walls are decorated with paintings and shelves far above my arm reach display their most expensive and daughter after products. Every piece of decor and furniture, even the display racks, enhance the space. (Submitted on January 11, 2024)
