| People have many stereotypes. Especially towards | | | | guys buy clothes at second-hand shops and never |
| the other nations. Some of them are not merely | | | | read fashion magazines. |
| stereotypes but the very truth, while the other are a | | | | Fabrice was the next. He is an expatriate Brazilian. |
| complete falsehood. | | | | The young man is a dancer and works for Jeune |
| Before going to Paris and meeting the Parisians I used | | | | Ballet de Paris. He complained that it's difficult to live in |
| to think the capital citizens are all dressed-up, as if they | | | | Paris if you wear clothes that are bright and out of |
| have just went down the catwalk. And I was surprised | | | | style. But he got used to eccentric items and doesn't |
| when I saw the Parisians with my own eyes. They | | | | care about the opinion of the society. He prefers to |
| turned out to be dressed like millions of Europeans - | | | | buy clothes at open-air bazaars choosing things he |
| each in his or her way. I mean there are people who | | | | likes. He said he doesn't keep to any style because |
| keep up with the latest fashion trends and wear only | | | | he's an actor and he is fond of transformations. |
| Gucci or Prada. But there are many of them who | | | | In northeastern regions of the city live expatriates from |
| wear inexpensive brands and don't care about the | | | | Arab and African countries people dress quite |
| caprices of vogue. | | | | differently. They prefer to buy clothes in small stores |
| So I got interested in the subject. I decided to ask | | | | run by their compatriots. The goods at such stores are |
| people in the Paris streets what they are in and why. | | | | of a simple cut, gleam with silver and gold and are |
| The first mademoiselle I stopped was Linda. She is a | | | | decorated with different ethnic elements. Golden rings |
| designer and names Pierre Cardin her favourite | | | | and big bracelets are all the fashion here. Girls wear |
| fashion designer. She answered positively when I | | | | jeans with strass and flaring tops, guys sport peaked |
| asked her if she wore her own clothes. She also buys | | | | caps and golden bangles, corpulent women prefer to |
| them in different shops. For instance she likes Morgan | | | | wear African turbans. |
| and drops in at H&M. She said she doesn't keep | | | | I found out that overwhelming majority of the |
| up with the latest trends and creates her own style. | | | | youngsters do the shopping at Etam and Zara. Those |
| Antuan was my next interviewer. He is an extremely | | | | who like something more original drop in at H&M. |
| interesting personality I should say. Very elegant and | | | | Lots of them like vintage stores. Sometimes the prices |
| stylish in spite of his age (he's about 70). He said he is | | | | there are so high that the youngsters can afford to |
| cut out to be a man of fashion. He buys clothes in | | | | pay a visit there only on special occasions. Lots of |
| luxurious designer boutiques but doesn't follow the | | | | young people favour second-hand shops. All in all I can |
| fashion laws. He said he would never put on a thing at | | | | say that most Parisians combine things: they wear |
| the season he bought it. No sooner than in a couple of | | | | some brand items with interesting accessories, things |
| years, he added. | | | | brought from abroad trips or articles found in the |
| A young couple I talked to turned out to be | | | | Grandmother's wardrobe. |
| Scandinavians. They stand out against the background | | | | One shouldn't be afraid of experiments, they say. That |
| of the other people by an impressive appearance: the | | | | is the key to the unique style. |
| girl wears leggings and a shirt with a belt over it. The | | | | |