Fashion is subjective. What suits one person might not suit another. What one fashionista loves might not be to another’s taste. While there is no one-size-suits-all outfit or style, there are some cities that continue to be at the forefront of contemporary fashion day after day, year after year, defining what it is to be on-trend.
The world’s biggest brands and fashion houses are located within the historic fashion capitals: London, Paris and Milan. It is in these very cities that the leading fashion magazines are published, the biggest catwalks are held and are the home to some of the finest designers in the industry. We therefore thought it was time to look at how the big fashion capitals continue to make waves in the industry, and why every stylish traveller needs to visit them at some stage in their lives.
Read more after the jump:
London
Many centuries ago, London became one of the richest capitals in the world, allowing wealthy residents to adorn the finest materials and designs. It was therefore the first city to make a significant impact in fashion, with the world looking at the styles of Britain’s royalty during the Elizabethan era.
While London no longer has the same international dominance, fashion seems to be almost embedded into the city, as many of the world’s leading fashion designers were born or have lived in the inspiring capital, such as Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Temperley London. With an array of high-end and high street stores, a multi-cultural community and exquisite architecture, it is no surprise the city continues to deliver on sophistication, quirkiness and style. All eyes are also on London when it comes to contemporary style, because their fashion colleges continue to motivate and produce young, creative designers every single year. So, if you class yourself as a fashionista, you are bound to be inspired during a visit to England’s capital city.
Paris
50 years after the Elizabethan era, the people of the world turned their attentions towards Paris, keeping a watchful eye on Parisian styles during Louis XIV’s reign. The French capital continued to dominate during the 20th century thanks to the designs of Yves Saint Laurent and Coco Chanel, whose brands continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Paris arguably remains the number fashion capital of the wor5ld, thanks to the publication of French Vogue, consistently producing streamlined looks and its impact on the perfume industry.
Milan
Italy and art are synonymous with one another, with the Italian Renaissance significantly impacting the fashion industry forever. While Paris focuses on creating opulent, extravagant looks, Milan’s fashion houses offered the perfect blend of style and practicality, delivering achievable outfits that fashionistas can imagine wearing, over being wowed by designs that only make an impact on a catwalk.
Milan’s style is, undoubtedly, influenced by Parisian style, with the city taking the “anything you can do I can do better” approach. Whether they achieve their aim is up to you to decide. You only need to walk through the city to feel the romance and mystique of Italy, which is seeped into the lines and stitching of the city’s designs.
Remember, style is subjective. So, if you discover the most fashionable and luxurious destinations on the planet, visit Mr Hudson Explores to pick a luxury vacation spot and hotel.
Images from: LONDON Style by Oli Kearon & Sylvester Yiu for DESIGNS SCENE Mag
