Paris shop windows have been invaded by sixties style little red coats. They brighten up the grey tweeds and Mondrian color block stripe patterns of the big coats of last year.
They are worn mini sixties style, four inches above the knee, with classic set in sleeves and flared out at the hip.
The Fashion Trends of the World will always begin in Paris. The city is the world fashion stage, with wide avenues, low antique buildings and beautiful bridges all great backdrops for fashion photography. It may be fun to shoot a ball gown by an elephant but if you really want to sell a dress shoot it on the golden Place de la Concorde.
Last year's Paris shoes have been platform high with straps and buckles and now the new shoe in the Paris window is a plain pointed toe high heel worn with nude stockings. Think fashion 2014 as Catherine Deneuve in "Belle de Jour" but very short.
After promoting the wildest crazy shoe that a woman can barely walk in, it's "fashion logic" to return to the opposite, a classic beautiful commercial shoe you can really wear.
The newest shoe color is gold,copper gold for tennis shoes, oxfords, heels and riding boots. Last summer the new shoe was neon so it's fashion logic to next go gold.
Don't throw away your crazy platforms you just bought, as you can still wear them when you go punk with leather look stretch pants and motorcycle jackets gold studded with a "punk is back" feel.
My favorite is the jacquard tweed stretch pant with a leather backside. The two fabric pant, either a wide side stripe of a contrast fabric or the entire back in leather a contrast fabric. This pant is the must have clothing purchase after the little red coat.
The cross over bag is a purse with a long strap as your bag cannot get swiped by the world's best purse thieves that live at the Jardin des Tuileries at the Louvre.
My cross over bag from the Paris 70s is on HSN at less today than it was then.
Fall is the best time of year to shop for fashion in Paris as the new looks are presented more for fall than spring. Last summer there was return to florals and FridaKahlomania. It continues with black ground florals always mixed with a contrast top or bottom.
Frida Kahlo exhibit is on at the Orangerie in Paris and Frida the play is on at Theatre Dejazet produced by Jean Bouquin ( ex fashion designer of the sixties ) and the big flower Frida Flower print is biggest for short full skirts, tight pants and accessories.
The little leather cap is back or the twenties velvet tweet knit cap with a crochet rose on the side. It goes with the little mini red coat and is worn with black classic pointed toe shoes 4 inch heels and sheer nylons.
Yes ladies, get out your 1950's looking sheer nylons to wear with your mini red coat and show off those gorgeous gams. being happy is the new chic.
Vicky Tiel began designing clothes 40 years ago in Paris and still owns a boutique there. See Vicky and her new collection on HSN and online. Her couture is available at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, and her perfumes are carried in Perfumania. Her memoir, It's All About the Dress: What I Learned in 40 Years About Men, Women, Sex and Fashion was published by St. Martin's Press in August 2011.