Style debate: Paris vs New York

If the French citadel of chic has been about a take-no-prisoners approach to effortless style, New York has always infused an oxygenating stir of to-hell-with-it street style and take-charge sportiness. With fashion becoming increasingly democratic and accessible, it's an interesting time where one sees cross-pollination and an orgiastic osmosis of Americana and Parisian chic. One look at the snapshots pouring in from both cities and one can see the Coca Cola glamour having a conversation with the sinful Ladurée fantasia. Over to Nachiket Barve (who studied at Ecole Nationale Superieur des arts Decoratifs (ENSAD) and interned at Celine, Paris) and Falguni and Shane Peacock who've showcased at New York Fashion Week for many years...

Nachiket Barve

Paris

Paris has always been the Mecca of some of world's influential couturiers and luxury conglomerates. Parisian chic is the timeless metaphor for effortless style and it's never been about perfection. Who can forget the incredible Catherine Deneuve in the 1967 classic Belle de Jour? Among other iconic figures, who've left indelible imprint on the style landscape are Vanessa Paradis and Audrey Tautou.

French girls have always shown how the expected, cliched things can be cleverly played out in an off-the-wall manner. There's something off-kilter about the way they put together their looks. I think this unique, inherent sense of style has been passed down from several generations of French women. Look at Carine Roitfeld, former French Vogue Editor - she represents edgy chic, which is simply inimitable.

French have a strong sense of colour and they tend to gravitate towards black, however, their coquetry with other tones is noteworthy too. Moreover, black is always worn with a personal touch, say a lip colour accent or a vibrant Hermès scarf but never as a uniform.

In Paris, sartorial pieces are bought to cultivate a wholesome wardrobe and not merely as occasion-wear. For example, they'll invest in a classic and season-less coat, which will never go out of style.

When I was studying in Paris, one day at Champs-Élysées, a brunette floated into my line of vision as she stepped out of her car in a cobalt blue Lanvin mini. What struck me about her appearance was the way she had worn it. There was that je nais se quoi ease about it.  

Parisians don't shy away from the past and there are so many layers of history that percolates into clothing, which always glories thanks to the incredible craftsmanship. A 30's Lanvin dress today is as modern and relevant as it was back then.

At 7 am, it's not unusual to see old Parisian ladies walking with their dogs in floor-length coats, baguettes tucked under their arms and mind you, it's not for Instagram. They could be just meeting their granddaughters for tea.

That's how they've lived all their lives.  

I'd like to add that Paris is not what it used to be! Today it's home to an interesting bunch of designers and now with so many new creative heads being appointed at some of the hallowed couture houses, it'll be interesting to observe how the city reshapes its legacy.

Back in the day, it was about the glamour of couture attendees, but it's also about bloggers, street style icons thanks to the camera phones coming in.

Falguni and Shane Peacock

If Paris represents the purity of the rarefied haute couture, New York is the ultimate bastion of luxe sportiness and high-end ready-to-wear. Having showcased our collections at New York Fashion Week for so many seasons now, the Big Apple holds special significance for us as individuals and also as a label. NYC welcomed us with open arms when we showcased out first collection there and this love affair with the city hasn't lost its steam. In fact, now we plan to showcase in the French capital too but New York will always be special to us. Contrary to its stereotype of being all serious grey and dull, the city is warming up to vibrant colours. It's no longer about the cliched head-to-toe black ensemble. One often comes across fashion editors, buyers and influencers embracing myriad hues. Also on the runway, a lot of designers have started flirting with a stunning panoply of daring colours as opposed to the all-pervading black. What cuts NYC above the rest is the fact that it's very music-driven and hence grunge has always been the key element of its style vocabulary and designers aim to reach out to the music community (who's itching to infuse that nonchalance into their wardrobes). There's always a polished vibe about the way New Yorkers dress - one sees dresses in summers layered with jackets and boots, while winters are all about being fully-clothed. Office wear has always been a major part of it too. This alchemy of different street styles from cultures as diverse as Chinese and Japanese makes it an inspiring cauldron for the street style junkies.

What adds to the street cred are a plethora of vintage American brands. The soul of American fashion lies in narrating stories and the city slickers here always like to tell and listen to an inspiring fashion tale. The iconic Anna Wintour (Editor, Vogue US) with her incredible sense of personal style always stands out when one thinks of NYC style. The visionary editrix always thinks ahead and this ability to sense things before others perhaps makes her ahead of the style curve.

American designers like Manolo Bhahnik, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger are all so iconic. NYC as a city is so free and forward in its thinking. Of course, Hollywood icons have added a cinematic flavour to its appeal.

Talking about that, I can't help but point out Julia Roberts' style metamorphosis in Pretty Woman. Icons like Charlize Theron have beautifully struck a balance between glam and grunge. Paris, I feel, is so done with elegance that it wants to embrace grunge now while New Yorkers often seem to be inspired by Parisian chic. This mutual admiration and overlapping makes fashion scene even more exciting.