Life In Paris As A Fashion Intern And A Student of Fashion
Photo courtesy of Mariah Cidral
Written by Mariah Cidral
“If you love fashion you must live in Paris,” this used to be my motto right after finishing a Master's degree in communication in Brazil. I remember from an early age watching movies and videos of beautifully dressed people walking around the streets of the French capital and saying to myself, “one day, I will be one of them.”
Fast forwarded to today, and here I am as an intern and a student! But I must confess that life in Paris is very different from that depicted in the movies.
Marte 2050 (2019): Fashion film and editorial created and directed by Miriah Cidral for Masters program at the Istituto Marangoni.
I moved to the “City of Lights” in 2016 and first studied French at the Sorbonne to better understand not only the language but also this new and different culture. Little did I know about how hard would it be to learn French and adapt to this big city. Being a French student in Paris is like speaking very-basic-English almost 24/7 because people are not patient so you just give up and ask at the bakery for “one baguette, please!” And they reply, “voila, thank you!”
Over time, you either get used to it or you set some rules as I did to myself. I insisted and tried to speak in French, even if I had to repeat it five times with the aid of some hand gestures. And it worked well, so well that I am fluent now, after 3 years living here. So, here is the first tip for those who are thinking about moving to Paris: be persistent and learn their culture!
Marte 2050 (2019): Fashion film and editorial created and directed by Miriah Cidral for Masters program at the Istituto Marangoni.
Once I finished the French course and I learned more about life as a “Parisian.” I decided it was time to enroll in a fashion course. After visiting several schools I picked one that had a multiethnic group. After all, there is nothing better than the feeling of having something in common with other people in a foreign country. In this case, being a foreigner. And here I am, doing another Master’s course but this time in Fashion Styling, Photography and Film, and in Paris!
I can tell you it is a privilege to live in a city that is the cradle of fashion or at least of the Haute Couture. Where you can easily spot the difference between quartiers and their dwellers by the way they are dressed up, or what they carry in their tote bag.
Paris for a fashion student is like a giant living lab. Where we are constantly stimulated by the sights, noises, and odors of the people, boutiques, restaurants, clubs, and every other imaginable place you can be. If you spend one sunny morning in a café at the Saint Germain street, for instance, you will notice the rich-young-cool kids strolling around, mainly wearing large sunglasses and neutral colors.
Marte 2050 (2019): Fashion film and editorial created and directed by Miriah Cidral for Masters program at the Istituto Marangoni.
Whereas if you have lunch in the Marais, you might find yourself in a very colorful and noisy quartier, where people will dress to be seen, and “the more the better” concept is taken very seriously. For dinner, you can go to one of the chic restaurants nearby the Champs-Élysées Avenue, and there you will find the classic and discreet style of the Parisian bourgeois wearing a little black dress, scarpins, suits, and diamonds. The place in Paris where tradition is a must and discretion is a plus.
Of course, you will find the styles mixed sometimes, but it is magical how you can get used to your quartier and your neighbors’ lifestyle.
Another fact about living in Paris: it is true, if you come to the city to study fashion you will end up even more obsessed with it. Here is the second tip for a fashion student: explore the city with all of your senses.
The fashion experience will become even more complete and you will be able to fully understand the different fashion houses and styles that were born here. By visiting the rive à gauche quartier (on the left side of the Seine river) for example, I was able to figure out why Yves Saint Laurent opened the first a ready-to-wear boutique in 1966 under his name. Not only did he understand the need for the market from that period, but he also knew where the public was located in the capital. A crucial piece of knowledge to run a successful business!
Paris Fashion Week September 2019
Paris for students is a magical place. I remember the first time I saw the chairs of the famous café where Christian Dior used to go every afternoon (based on the marks those chairs left on the fabrics of the clothes the clients were wearing, Dior created the texture we see on the Lady Dior bag, for instance). I also remember the first time I had a cup of tea at Café Angelina, Coco Chanel’s favorite café in the city. And where Parisians go to see and be seen. Do not forget to try the hot chocolate there, it is one of the best in the capital.
Besides, from all the different experiences a fashion student can have in the capital de la mode, I must say the best is the Paris Fashion Week. Most of the fashion schools receive invitations to let their students attend the multiples shows, and this is the moment where we get to see the most magical moments of the year. When the designer collections are finally displayed by the best models in the world!
The feeling of attending a fashion show and seeing the clothes up close is an enriching opportunity. Aside from the several parties held by the maisons in Paris, it is a great opportunity for us to make some business contacts and increase our business contacts.
Michèle Lamy and Mariah Cidral during Rick Owen's fashion show (February 2019)
Glamour, vanity, but mainly networking, this is the main reason why we attend the shows and the parties. But, I must confess that eventually, you will have a lot of fun. Designers, models, celebrities, the city is transformed and the students finally have the chance to explore this other side of the fashion world as well. And here is the last tip I give you: networking!
I finally got my dream internship thanks to connections and people I have met during a fashion week season. How? Well, by chance I met a fashion business student during a fashion show, and we soon became friends and shared a lot in common. As soon as she graduated, she was hired by one of the best trend forecasting agencies in the world, and guess what? As soon as she knew I was looking for an internship in the trend forecasting field she contacted me saying the company had an internship position that suited me.
I went to the agency and met her boss. They evaluated my CV and recommendations and eventually they hired me as their intern. This is a practical lesson that once you are in Paris, you need to get out there and meet people to be remembered.
Milan Fashion Week September 2019
My experience at the agency has been amazing and enriching. I am in charge of the research and curation of emerging trends in Europe. So, I spent most of my days walking around the city, watching people, tv series, new movies reading all sorts of publications, getting to know new stores and artists. It is a surprisingly interesting job since it requires a lot of researching skills to understand what is new and what is already over.
Unfortunately, during the first semester of 2020, we had to face an unprecedented obstacle which was the quarantine due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, by staying home I could easily “travel” around the globe thanks to the internet.
Incredible as it may seem, new behaviors have emerged that generate new consumption and market trends; I did not rest for a minute during the days I stayed at home! I was watching, reading, listening, and researching globally to understand where this pandemic will take us.
Unfortunately, one of the major consequences of this pandemic crisis — aside from the loss of a loved one — is the unemployment rate, especially in the fashion industry. Many people I know have lost their jobs, internships, or are unable to find one. Most of them were foreigners and could not or would not go back to their countries therefore they were quarantined in Paris (some completely isolated!).
The first semester of 2020 has been tough for everyone. Fashion students and workers are being severely harmed and we can only hope that soon the industry will gain strength again to generate jobs and income for all. But for now, we will have to patiently wait.
Living in Paris can be hard, I admit it, especially now during this pandemic. But it is unique and you will never find a place like it in the entire world.
Paris is the city where fashion history is just around the corner waiting for you to discover it. At the same time, you experience the latest trends being born. If you are thinking about coming to Paris to pursue your studies in fashion, I bet you will be amazed by all the daily experiences and, of course by the baguette!
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