Fashion (la mode) is a term that we use in every part of the world, but what is fashion? And is fashion the same all around the world?
If you look up the definition, fashion is term for a “currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person.”
Let me introduce myself: My name is Ingrid, and I am French. I used to work in the fashion industry in different shops like Zara, for instance. I lived in Madrid and London, and now I’m studying in Omaha.
In France, especially in big cities like Paris or Marseille, where I come from, fashion is one of the most important industries.
From my experience, I can affirm that fashion is everywhere, but everywhere it is different.
Of course, some stuff can be very famous, like the latest “it bag” you find in Vogue. But the way to dress up varies in every country, sometimes because of the habits, the culture or the religion.
For example, in Madrid they have a lot of choices, but not everybody seems to be so into fashion, whereas in London they all seem to worry about having their own style, which is easy because there you can find whatever you want. A thing I appreciate about London is you can dress up as you like because people won’t judge you.
When I arrived in Omaha two weeks ago, I was surprised to see that you can go to school wearing whatever you want. I mean you don’t really have to wear makeup or fancy outfits.
That’s not the case in France, at least in my city. Whenever you go out, whether it’s to school, to shop, to hang out or to visit your family, you have to be dressed up – in every situation!
One thing I don’t like about fashion at times is that people will often stare at you and examine you in every little detail. “What brand of jeans are you wearing?” “Is this a Louis Vuitton handbag?” “Wasn’t she wearing those shoes last Friday night?” There is a lot of pressure to always have the latest style.
People know what you were wearing yesterday or the last time they saw you. My advice: Don’t wear the same clothes two weekends in a row. This could be interpreted as a “faux pas.”
In big cities, girls used to go to school with a Louis Vuitton handbag, because you have to have at least one in your wardrobe. That’s just the way it is.
To be objective, I needed to know what American people think is different between American and French fashion.
Alexandra Vitek, an Arts & Sciences junior who spent last semester in France, really enjoyed the French style.
“I love the fashion in France,” she said. “The French always dress so well without looking like they tried hard. They always look good no matter where they are going or what they’re doing. But here in America, people usually just put on sweatpants and a T-shirt. I definitely put more thought into how I dress now.”
For me, it seems paradoxical in a certain way because in France we love the American brands and we shop online for brands like Urban Outfitters or American Apparel.
Inès Sathout, a French Arts & Sciences junior studying at Creighton, admitted she was expecting to find more outfits here.
“I wish Omaha could propose more choices of shops, thus representing all the brands and typical styles of the American fashionistas,” she said.
To really know if people here are into fashion or not, I went to Urban Outfitters, curious to see if a lot of students shop there.
I inquired of Heather, an Urban Outfitters saleswoman.
“We have a lot of students from Creighton University and UNO coming,” she said. “We also do three or four college nights per year to attract more students.”
During these nights, students can enjoy more discounts by showing their college ID.
So I guess that in Omaha, going to school and going out are two distinct things, and that doesn’t mean that people here don’t enjoy fashion.
Maybe it is better. I have to admit that I spend a lot of time choosing my clothes in the morning before going to school even if I might be late . . .