By: Sophia Kane, Sage Chen, Fatou Kané, and Isabella Panag
As we got off the Bond Street station, herds of people were walking up and down Oxford Street. It was overwhelming but also intriguing. We were able to note down the overall straight silhouette accompanied with a blazer, a suit jacket, trench coat, or leather jacket. There was barely anyone spotted with a jacket that was made of a softer textile. People were also mostly in sneakers or leather boots or sandals. We observed that the most worn sneakers were the Adidas Sambas. Generally, the aesthetics were more chic and casual along with quite a few individuals dressed with a very personal style that stood out from the crowd. There was a more neutral palette and some earth tones with some printed floral tops spotted here and there.
The first individual that we interviewed was a woman living around the area. Her outfit’s overall color palette was very neutral and earthy with mostly beige garments and pops of white and black from the keffiyeh which she said was to support Palestine. She had on a beige trench coat with a khaki top and shorts just peeking out from under. Her favorite place to shop on the street would have to be Selfridges. When we asked her what inspires her day to day outfit, she confidently said that it’s wanting to feel good about what she’s wearing. Then as we walked down further, we saw a bright blue Chanel sac à mains that caught our eye. The owner is wearing a beige short trench coat along with a white top and white jeans with a wide and straight silhouette. She taps into the blue accents with the Chanel bag, Van Cleef & Arpels earring and necklace set, and a ring from an unknown brand. She perfectly ties all her accessories together which is what she said she insists on. Oxford Street is her favorite place to shop and she says it’s always super busy. After fangirling at her accessories, we came across a girl who had this super light neutral palette with a lot of textures in her outfit. We were surprised to find that she loves shopping online and that her entire outfit was basically from Shein. She wore a white long sleeve with a darker beige puffer vest layered on top with a light beige cargo skirt and beige crocs. Her beige bag was also the exact same shade as her skirt. To add a little more complexity to her color palette, she layered a white bandana on a blush pink hijab. When asking about inspirations for her outfits, she says she refers to her Pinterest board and also past outfits. She’s so specific with her style that she said she could even change 5 times a day. Then the last group that we interviewed were these two guys that lived 25 minutes outside of London. One of them wore a white tank top and had a navy blue hoodie tied across his chest thing in with his blue jorts. He also wore mustard yellow Doctor Martens and a brown belt. The other was head to pants black wearing white pumas that had black stripes. Both of them agreed with the others that this was the best shopping area in London and that you’re only able to spot the better styles here. They said that compared to people outside of the central area, it’s different and that they care less about what they’re wearing. Overall, the most interesting part of Oxford Street is probably how we saw so many different kinds of trench coats that were the same color but with a slightly different cut or style.
Oxford Street is just like what all the people we came across said. It is Europe’s busiest shopping street with around 300 shops and with more than 200 million visits every year. You’re able to find the best high street brands and also the iconic department store, Selfridges housing many designer and clothing brands.
Rue Saint-Honoré is a blend of historic charm and modern luxury. The architecture was extraordinary, and the streets were lined with high-end boutiques, luxury stores, and cafes. Strolling through Rue Saint Honore, we were encompassed by fashionable civilians, leisurely walking past with their shopping bags. Bicycles raced by us, yet their riders still wore exceptional clothing! This area exudes class, charm, and sophistication. The macro trends we found most dominant were chic minimalism and an elevated neutral color palette. This style includes silhouettes such as flowy dresses, skirts, and pants, neutral colors, and classy tops. We hardly saw many colorful outfits, and the prominent colors worn were white, black, gray, brown, and beige.
We first approached a stunning young couple, probably a few years older than us. We caught them on their way to the Jardin Palais Royale to enjoy the beautiful gardens and architecture and the beautiful sunny weather. The girl wore a flowy white skirt and a brown and beige plaid tube top, reflecting that loose yet chic look that was simultaneously timeless and trendy. Her boyfriend wore a linen brown short-sleeved button-up with beige linen pants. They wore these outfits to stay cool in the heat while maintaining a very classy, effortless look. They were both very enthusiastic about fashion as a way to express themselves and claimed that Rue Saint-Honoré was a great place to shop, but they usually came for the food and the atmosphere. As we moved further up the street, we ran into a chic real estate agent. She was originally from Portugal but has lived and worked in Paris for 15 years. She wore a stunning cream-white set with a strapless buttoned top, flowy pants, linen blazer, leopard bag, and Louis Vuitton clutch. Wearing this outfit makes her feel comfortable but elegant enough to go to work or a nice dinner. Rue Saint-Honoré is her favorite area as there are a lot of beautiful stores and people are extremely fashionable. She loves living in Paris despite the expenses, and its price explains why French people are so fashionable. The last girl we interviewed wore a stunning black, flowy maxi dress and black sandals, tied all together with a delicate black bow in her hair. We thought she perfectly encapsulated the style we saw most everyone on this street wearing this simple, yet elegant look with a touch of casualness from the sandals. She didn’t speak much English, but she did tell us she loved the perfume and jewelry in this area. She loves all styles, but she particularly loves wearing this elegant style because it makes her look chic when shopping in such a nice area.
We loved Rue Saint-Honoré’s style as everyone’s outfits were timeless and will never be unfashionable, while still being comfortable and effective in staying cool on such a hot summer’s day! We found it interesting that almost everyone has minimalist outfits, yet, they wear them in such a chic way. It is impossible not to admire it.
The streetwear in both Oxford Street and Rue Saint-Honoré was extremely fashionable, and we loved getting to observe and interact with the locals! Both areas had lots of luxury shopping and are best known for their shopping by tourists and locals alike. Neutral tones were the most prevalent palette in both areas, but London had more color among the outfits. The style on Oxford Street was a little more unique, and we saw a lot more variety in what people were wearing, while Rue Saint Honoré was more consistent in style and stuck to the timeless, chic aesthetic. Oxford Street was definitely more crowded than Rue Saint Honoré, and while Rue Saint Honoré is also a famous street, there were more locals and artisanal stores.
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