THE JOURNAL

Photograph by Mr Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
All in all, the shows in Paris this season seemed to go down rather well. After a few seasons of designers grappling with their identities and what they stood for in a world of flash-in-the-pan virality, the social-media circus, and the increasingly difficult-to-define concept of streetwear, it felt as if fashion was finally finding its groove again. Rick Owens showed a brilliantly blankety collection inspired by Mr David Bowie, Jacquemus brought sexy back with a little help from the sisters Hadid, Paul Smith celebrated the brand’s 50th birthday while Bode continued to delight and surprise everyone with its homegrown American charm.
Still, as ever, our eyes were also drawn to what people were wearing outside, too – what the show-goers are dressed in is just as indicative of where menswear is going than what is on the runway, after all. And so, from motorbike helmets to handbags, here are our five favourite looks of the week.
Get ready with your friends

Photograph by Mr Adam Katz Sinding
We’d love to be a fly on the wall at some of the hotels in the morning when people begin to plan their outfits for the day. Did these three send mirror selfies to each other before their left their rooms? Or did they pack their suitcases together and swap a few clothes? Perhaps they all just really love military green. In any case, this kind of cohort coordination looks undeniably good, from the fleece on the guy on the left through to the coat and cargo jacket of the chap on the right. What are fashion friends for, if not to complement each other in street-style pictures?
In the navy

Photograph by Mr Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Is there a colour in existence more Parisian than navy blue? This chap certainly seems to like it, with this veritable navy trifecta of a look. The Prada trousers with the trench coat-style belt is a nice touch, while the T-shirt is tucked in to keep everything smart and clean. We can’t see his shoes in this photo (perhaps he’s wearing lime-green Crocs) but if they also happen to be navy, well, we’d be on board with that.
A well-tailored commute

Photograph by Mr Adam Katz Sinding
The roads during fashion week are always busy, packed as they are with blacked-out Mercedes Benz coupes containing stressed-out editors, but this season was particularly so because of the train strikes in Paris. As such, people found alternative modes of transport: Uber bicycles, Lime scooters and, apparently, motorbikes. These two might be rather low-key in their long buttoned-up coats and dark trousers, but it’s the offbeat addition of just-removed motorbike helmets that gives their look a bit of va va voom.
Knitwear with a twist

Photograph by Mr Christian Vierig/Getty Images
It’s tough spending hours queuing in the cold, and this throws up a challenge for show-goers who need to hit the mix between practical (and warm) clothes and pieces that will still elicit a few “your sweater, I die! Where did you get it?” comments. Case in point here from the guy on the left, who shows us how to layer like a true street-style master, with a cut-out yet cosy cable-knit sweater worn under a blazer.
A handbag?!

Photograph by Mr Jason Lloyd-Evans
While this purple leather handbag would very possibly look like it belonged to somebody’s grandmother were it in the hands of this writer, when it’s worn by Mr Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi, a regular on the menswear show circuit, it somehow looks like the perfect accessory. Paired sensibly with a quiet palette of beige and white, and bringing out the pink in the Fair Isle pattern of his sweater, this is a solid lesson in how to carry a tote. Colour us impressed.