When in Paris - how I fell for trainers

Ah Paris. Can someone take me back? Put me on top of the Eiffel tower with a basket of Laudree macaroons and a cute French guy please. (One who can preferably speak English, since the only French phrase I mastered was Parle Vous Anglais?)

I mentioned the Eiffel tower and I'm pleased to say that me and my friend Scarlet managed to climb the 1710 steps despite the baking heat. Here's a pic of us looking relatively composed before the trek. (note before...)

Had this, however, been a day earlier there would have been some serious problems in climbing that sky high tower. Involving some serious blisters and some equally serious (or rather painful) facial expressions.

Why? Because I had not yet bought my Parisian trainers. I went on holiday with just one pair of shoes (blame the hand-luggage restriction) which were so flat and un-supportive I could feel the ground beneath them. In short, not the type of shoes you want to wear when exploring a new city.......

Not wanting to dampen the mood I gritted my teeth, but by the end of the second day my feet were protesting even more than a gorilla in the Arctic. I knew I had to get some new shoes - fast. The cheapest I could find were always in the region of 100-150 euros..... money that could have gone towards a 3-course meal or even better our tickets to the Moulin Rouge. So I soldiered on.

But then a miracle happened: que a spontaneous trip to Monoprix where I found myself alcohol, sweets and... an awesome pair of trainers. They looked good, they were comfy and they didn't break the bank. For those of you who haven't been to France, Monoprix is basically the French version of Sainsburys. Yes. NOT a fashion store and certainly NOT the place you would go to buy shoes.

But lo and behold, I did. They were an unusual mix - blue and purple - and far from what I normally go for. Nevertheless, they caught my eye and after trying them on, I was sold (or rather, the shoes were).

The rest of the holiday I was like an energetic bunny, bouncing around in what I can honestly call my comfiest shoes to date. I used to think that trainers were just for exercising - how wrong was I.
In fact, the more I saw Paris the more I noticed that fashionable trainers were a thing. French ladies are usually known for their classy/chic clothes but colourful trainers is something that the younger generation of women are also embracing.

And that's including me! Safe to say I came back from Paris not only with some unforgettable memories, a slight tan and a bag load of washing, but a pair of trainers that are now sitting happily in my shoe wardrobe.

Merci beaucoup Paris! (hey, my French ain't that bad)

Couples that dress alike: yay or nay?

‘Oh yeah, our tastes have always been similar – we like the same films, the same food, ha, we even like the same clothes’

‘The same clothes?’

‘Yeah – we went out the other day and he insisted on matching his purple tie to my purple skirt. He loves my wardrobe….’

Image: hermelness

This was the conversation I heard in Co-op the other day. Two women in their late-twenties, one of them talking about her boyfriend and how they have similar tastes. I wasn’t really paying much attention (instead focusing on where the Quaker Oats was) but the last part made my ears prick up.

Couples who co-ordinate their clothes……really? 

But I thought the majority of men were dis-interested in what their partner wears? We all know the stereotypical 'guy-in-shop-whilst girlfriend-tries-on-clothes' scene. Meanwhile the editor of Glamour, Jo Elvin, has recently launched the twitter hashtag 'clothesmyhusbandhates' to showcase her husband’s dislike of her clothes.

#clothesmyhusbandhates.

There’s no doubt men are interested in fashion. After all, the majority of designers these days are men. But how far guys want to co-ordinate their clothes with their other half is something less common.

Or is it? Apparently not, with many celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, or Kim Kardashian and Jay-Z, doing what has become known as ‘twinning’; two people who dress similarly. Perhaps it’s to be expected in the celebrity world, but the conversation in Co-op makes it seem like this is a craze that could just take off. 

Best dressed at the BAFTA's? Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt took on a similar look in 2014.

If so, I’m torn as to how to take this. On the one hand, it makes a statement - a show of solidarity in fashion and in the relationship. Done well, it can look slick and impressive. Brangelina seem to pull it off. On the other hand, there is the danger of it going all too sickly-sweet and try-hard. I guess it depends on how far the matching actually goes. A bow tie matched to an item of the partner’s outfit strikes a nice balance, but completely matching outfits seems a step too far.

The jury's out: what do you think?

Image: gullei

KAZOO SPY: ISOBEL ON VELVET

Isobel Johns – or should that be Iz Johns – has a fetish for all things velvet. These days, velvet rarely appears in many peoples' wardrobes. But that’s not the case for her. She explains that the magic of velvet is how it makes an outfit instantly interesting. If you have a choice of cloth, why not go velvet? she exclaims.

rocking velvet (and a v on trend bag)

Intrigued to find out what items of velvet clothing she owns, I didn’t expect such a comprehensive list to follow:

1. Purple velvet halter neck dress. Apparently, this dress was fate – just £5 in a charity shop and ‘fitted to perfection’.
2. Black velvet waistcoat. Tricky to pull off, the perfect layer over a polo neck.
3. Brown velvet flare trousers. Let’s take a step back to the 70s for a minute. She describes them as channeling a ‘Joni Mitchell’ vibe.
4. Green velvet cardigan. This item was originally from the 80’s but with the shoulder pads removed. (Note: forget a time machine, her velvet items look the perfect alternative)
5. Purple velvet jacket. Bought at a vintage fair, she is still waiting for the perfect moment to wear this.
6. Velvet clubbing tops (example below)

Usually found on the High Street, tops like these are a ‘strong’ pick - but only when coupled with the black velvet leggings.

Hang on, the velvet black leggings?

Yes, the black velvet leggings. These are the go-to wardrobe staple when it comes to velvet – comfy and quick to slip on. She confesses that her personal hygiene has been questioned over how much she wears them (I decide not to ask any more on that) and how she would happily sacrifice a small animal for them (nor that). There’s something so tongue-in cheek about Isobel that velvet seems the perfect fabric for her vibrant personality - it’s as if standard cotton wouldn’t do.

Peek-a-boo: out in the infamous black velvet leggings

Delving a little deeper, I ask what’s her take on guys wearing velvet. ‘Aaaaaalmighty fun’ she says. Velvets dinner jackets, trousers and shoes are all spot on. As for velvet underwear? ‘Oh my. Yes. Intense in summer’. 

We mentioned her velvet wardrobe may as well be a time-machine and indeed, she gets much of her style inspiration from well-back. Whether it was jazz and flappers in the 20's or rock and roll and teddy boys in the 50's, music and fashion are a key part of what influences her – so much so that sometimes she will dress according to an era.

The exact era might be unpredictable - just as some of her answers have been - but one thing’s for certain: where there’s velvet there’s Iz, and where there’s Iz there’s velvet.

A velvet umbrella? watch this space

WHEN I SAY FASHION YOU SAY: FEELS

Isobel Johns is a 3rd year biochemistry student at Oxford, involved with both rowing & netball. 

She is the founder of online vintage clothes platform Vibe&Era. 
Pictures one, three and four taken by budding photographer Jeong Jung.