final lessons paris fashion week

And just like we did at the end of past fashion weeks, we close off with some final lessons. A week of running around in Paris has brought us a truckload of them and we would love to share them with you. Here we go.

Buy one-way metro tickets but DON’T throw them out
I planned on renting a bike but ended up taking the metro. The metro system in Paris is fantastic and very effective, only the ticket system sucks. When I arrived at Gare du Nord I bought a ticket that was valid for two days, an expensive investment of 30 euros. A one-way ticket costs 1.80 euro, so you’ll need at least 15 trips on the metro to get your moneys worth, that’s a lot for two days. So after that I bought a bunch of one-way tickets and threw them in my bag, very chaotic. My friend Sander shared some advice with me: “Just check in and throw them away once you’re through the gate.” So I did. It worked until we ran into a police control post while leaving the metro in a hurry on our way to Hermès. Apparently they check for cards. I had disposed of mine and I must say I have never, ever, in all those years of visiting Paris, ran into a control post. The monsieurs were unforgiving and despite me showing them all the cards I still had in my bag I was fined for 33 euros.

Blogging is hard work
I was on the go for two days with Noor (Queen of Jetlags) and I met a lot of her blogging friends. Those girls run all over town, have thousands of meetings and always have to look their best. Take it from me; those gals work their socks off.

You never get used to being photographed
Street style photographers have become as much of a part of Fashion week as models, they’re both everywhere. And when one starts shooting pictures, so do the rest. Before you know it you have 50 camera lenses snapping at you. This makes me feel awkward but it also feels exciting and frustrating, as I have no idea where these pictures will end up. I befriended one photographer by the name of David Nvanzi. He was everywhere. He took a picture of my look of the day and sent it to me every evening. Hurrah for David but apart from him I still find the whole experience a bit unsettling.

Without a ciggie you’re a nobody
In New York they practically deport you if you even think about a cigarette, in Paris you are so ‘no one’ if you don’t have a Marlboro Light between your fingers. Everyone smokes. Everyone. If I was waiting somewhere after a show, I lite up a cigarette and photographers would ask me to do it again for the camera, “because it’s so super French”.

Justin en Tim were the heroes of the week
I’m talking about Justin O’Shea, buyer for MyTheresa and Tim Blanks, reviewer for Style.com. Both men always took the time to give us a nice quote, gave us smart intelligent answers and were very friendly, even though they were the busiest men at Fashion week.

Fashion week is the best event ever
It really is. I already told you, but I’ll say it again. I can’t help it, I’m so looking forward to September.

Alle foto’s by David Nyanzi