Sarah Walker is a Who What Wear editor, content creator, stylist, and fashion consultant based in Los Angeles.
Wow, what a month. This season I was doing the full fashion circuit, New York, London, Milan and Paris, for the first time, and it was not only a dream come true but also quite a logistical challenge. the biggest? Figuring out how to pack for three weeks of fashion month in Europe in two suitcases (which eventually turned into three).
I’m LA-based, so after New York Fashion Week I went home to change my wardrobe and repack before heading to London, Milan, and Paris. Every city has its own distinct fashion identity, and part of the fun of fashion month lies in those subtle, unspoken style codes. While I always love my show looks, the real magic often happens in between, running shows, having coffee with friends, and of course, shopping. Here, I’m breaking down the best street-style outfits worn in each fashion capital.
At first, it was the coolest of the fashion cities. I was bundled up not for fashion reasons, really just to stay warm. In NYC, it was all about big coats, hats, and gloves. Layers, layers, layers was the name of the game. One of my favorite outfits was a layered turtleneck with a white button-down and fur-trimmed coat, warm and chic. I also finally wore the tiger fur Charlotte Simone coat that had been waiting patiently in my closet since December. I paired it with my trusty blue Lotan Joan jeans (which I wore almost every day in New York) and my black Everlane turtleneck, something you’ll notice will become a topic of discussion. I love that anything can happen in New York; I can wear funky prints and patterns and it just works.
In London, I was attracted to the posh, tailored city that looks great. I wore a fabulous Librowe coat as a top with SLVRLAKE jeans and my favorite Chanel slingback. I’m a creature of habit and I’m a firm believer that when you find the right pair of shoes, you wear them. These are shoes I will never travel without. Star of the dress? A non-branded vintage tassel belt I tied around my waist. I also gravitated toward wearing the Sandy Liang tie top in London, even though I originally packed it for Paris. Something about the tie and trench felt right for the city.
Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time in Milan, so packing in this city was a little difficult. I know it’s the fashion capital, so I was expecting some bold styles, but I was still surprised by how many fashion risks and pops of color I saw while walking the streets. This inspired me to wear my Sax Potts orange croc jacket, which I love to wear with brown Frankie Shop trousers. Another favorite look was a Wardrobe.NYC dress that I planned to wear as is, but on my last day I decided to style it as a jacket, layering it over jeans and a white ALC button-down. This impromptu dress became one of my favorites of fashion month.
Finally, Paris. Paris fashion is classic, delicate and effortless. So naturally, I tried to match this energy. I saved a vintage Oscar de la Renta fur-trimmed dress for Paris, and it was perfect for a warm spring night. I paired it with one of my favorite French brands, Lulu de Saison, and my favorite Jimmy Choo pieces. While I was there I also found myself drawn to my vintage Levi’s, so I wore them with a white Zara turtleneck and a vintage Ralph Lauren ponyhair zebra jacket. Easy, comfortable, and very good.
