Fashion Week Diary

American Girls In Paris, Part Un: Rubbing shoulders with Nina Garcia & KatyPerry and the search for cheap Wi-Fi

Katy Perry outside Viktor and Rolf at the Tuleries Jardin

Photo by Annina Stefanelli
Lindley Arnoldy being interviewed outside of the Chanel show, Paris Fashion Week

Photo by Annina Stefanelli
Coffee and invitations

Photo by Annina Stefanelli
Annina Stefanelli, left, and Lindley Arnoldy at the Chloe show during ParisFashion Week

Courtesy Photo
Nina Garcia at the Couvent des Cordeliers in Paris

Photo by Annina Stefanelli
Anna dello Russo at the front row of Chloe

Photo by Lindley Arnoldy
Collage of our Instagram images taken via iPhone

Photos by Lindley Arnoldy & Annina Stefanelli
Lindley Arnoldy in Paris

Photo by Wilfrid Azencoth/Photographer in the City
Lindley Arnoldy shot in front of the Westin Hotel

Photo by Wilfrid Azencoth/Photographer in the City

PARIS — It is many a girl's dream to travel to the French capital for fashion week and we recently had the opportunity to live out our dream. After spending a thrilling week in New York chock full of fashion shows, we decided on a bit of a whim to take a quick jaunt to France to see how the Parisians do fashion week. And we were not let down.

Our adventure was everything one would expect from a week in Paris filled with non-stop fashion shows, including everything from sipping martinis at the Ritz Bar Vendome next to Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Wintour and André Leon Talley to walking into shows next to the likes of Nina Garcia, Anna dello Rosso, Grace Coddington and Katy Perry.

In New York, most of the show entrances are administered by computer systems with electronic RSVP’s while in Paris, publicists stick to the classic snail mail with exclusive, non-transferable invites arriving via traditional mail.

Oh and how could we forget Lindley getting snapped up by Parisian street style photographers and Annina getting photographed by the one and only Bill Cunningham? Paris was a dream and oh so much more. J’adore! Or should we say, nous aimons!

Paris and New York are two totally different fashion week experiences. In New York, most of the show entrances are administered by computer systems with electronic RSVP’s while in Paris, publicists stick to the classic snail mail with exclusive, non-transferable invites arriving via traditional mail. Photographer Tommy-Ton has become known for his shots of editors and fashionistas holding their beautiful clutches with their equally elegant show invites.

(With our fashion blogger street cred, we wangled some invitations; at other shows, we stopped by the venue to see if there was room and got squeezed in.)

The other spectacular thing about Paris is the beauty of the slight disorganization; attendees are all coming through the same entrance at relatively the same time, so we were constantly star struck, rubbing shoulders with the chicest editors and contributors in the industry.

Street style photo bloggers such as Scott Schuman and his adorable beaux Garance Dore, Caroline of Caroline’s Mode and the famous Parisian blogger Kamel Lahnadi of Style and the City (who shot us ouside of Barbara Bui) all swarm outside of shows, creating the famous "concrete catwalk" that has become so popular.

Search for Wee-fee

As with any travel experience, particularly when overseas, there are things that are inevitably out of your control and a bit of a learning curve. In the case of Paris fashion week for us, this was the constant search for free Wi-Fi (which we now know is pronounced wee-fee in French).

Most of the time we ended up coughing up between 12 and 20 euros for a mere hour of Wi-Fi, usually in the bar of our hotel, The Westin in Place Vendome until we discovered the chicest lunch spot in town, L’Avenue.

After the Viktor & Rolf show, we ended up at a table next to Katy Perry and her entire entourage. Monsieur, one more glass, s'il vous plait…

L’Avenue is located on the corner of “Fashion Avenue” or Avenue Montaigne and is filled to the brim during fashion week with the chicest, Celine and Chanel-clad Parisienne’s in town. With free Wi-Fi and reasonably priced glasses of Chablis, this quickly became our new favorite post-show spot for tweeting, email and Instagram. After the Viktor & Rolf show, we ended up at a table next to Katy Perry and her entire entourage. Monsieur, one more glass, s'il vous plait…

In addition to days filled with back-to-back shows, glamorous lunches, time with our adorable new friend Hillary, the Chanel brand ambassador, and après dinner cocktails at one of our various spots in Place Vendome, we saw some serious street style. Parisian women and men are chic to the next level! New York Street style is glamourous but defined by a personal and quirky character.

The street style during Paris is very high fashion, fully equipped with exquisite coats, hats and outrageous looks straight from the runway. Some of our favorite sightings included Russian style icons Uliana Sergienko outside of Viktor & Rolf and again at Valentino, and the unbelievably adorable and stylish Miroslava Duma at the Valentin Yudashkin show. These taste makers serve as a preview to what is expected of the collection about to debut.

Our Parisian fashion week adventure included 13 fabulous shows, with highlights at Isabel Marant, Carven, Balmain, Tsumori Chisato and Chloe. Next week, check in with "American Girls in Paris Part Deux" for our take on the shows…Au revoir!

Lindley Arnoldy writes the fashion and style blog The Flip Side, and Annina Stefanelli writes the blog Cinched at the Waist.

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SEASONAL SIZZLE

Where to shop in Houston right now: 12 can't-miss spots for summer 2026

Photo by Laura Sanz Photography

South to North is bringing a fresh lineup of international brands to Houston this summer.

The summer is definitely heating up, and so is the shopping scene this month. July is packed with store openings, limited-time sales, summer events, and new collections from some of the city's favorite designers and boutiques. Whether it's the perfect pair of boots, stunning jewelry, or an excuse to shop with a cocktail in hand, the retail scene in Houston is worth checking out this month.

Alchemia
Support Houston's fashion scene at the FFF Summer Pop-Up on Thursday, July 10, from 12-5 pm at Alchemia. The afternoon will highlight women-owned businesses and local designers. Shoppers can browse curated summer collections from brands including M+M Couture Designs, The Sister Rack, Tiedy Gals Co., My Knit Ever, and Sparkle & Shine by Lynn while sipping complimentary bubbles and refreshments.

Blue Leaf Houston
Along with settling in to its new location, Blue Leaf has restocked with gifts and fun baubles perfect for summer, including a large inventory of Jellycats; the latest from Mackenzie-Childs and Elsata Ceramics; and kids' clothes for both boys and girls, including Pink Chicken and EMC. The store also carries a large selection of bespoke mahjong tiles.

Houston Premium Outlets
Everyone's favorite Houston-area outlet mall is giving shoppers two more reasons to visit this summer. Popular brands Birkenstock and The North Face are now open, joining the outlet center's always-growing roster of retailers.

Hunter Bell
Houston designer brand Hunter Bell is kicking off summer savings with a sale running now through July 11. Shoppers can save up to 70 percent on select pieces from the Spring 2026 and Resort 2026 collections, making it the perfect time to stock up on the brand's polished styles before they're gone.

J. Landa Jewelry
Jumping on the summer beaded gemstone necklace trend, J. Landa's newest collection includes elevated necklaces featuring natural stones, whimsical shell and fish charms that add color and texture to summer layering.

Lucchese Bootmaker
Season 3 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders has everyone talking. For those who want to feel like a part of the team, Lucchese's Gina boot, inspired by the team's iconic performance boot, will complete any look. Available in-store or online, the boots are a great way to channel the spirit of DCC while still looking stylish in Western fashion.

Mirth
Houston-based brand Mirth is making it easy to refresh a summer wardrobe with its Holiday Weekend Sale, running through July 7. Shoppers can score an extra 20 percent off already marked-down dresses, breezy separates, and the brand's colorful signature prints. The discount is automatically applied at checkout, no code needed.

Primark
Just in time for back-to-school shopping, affordable retailer Primark will be opening its seventh store in Texas at Willowbrook Mall on July 16. The store will be offering essentials at great prices, including women's denim starting at $12, men's tees at $5, and girls' and boys' sweatshirts at $8. Sports fans can also stock up on their favorite team's merch, including Texans, Cowboys, Rockets, and Spurs items.

River Oaks District
The development's Texas Nights series will feature live music, shopping, and cocktails. Held on Saturdays, July 4, 11, and 18, the event will have performances by Rush Creek, Wes Nickson, and Trent Cade, along with the district's mix of boutiques and restaurants. It's a great excuse to sip, shop, and enjoy a warm Houston summer evening.

SĀMAÁ Diamonds Studio
Houston-based jewelry designer Sugam Khanna recently debuted her newest collection, Le Papillon, at an exclusive event at Upper Kirby cocktail lounge Santé. The collection is inspired by butterflies, and on some of the new rings, the butterfly's wings are designed to flutter with the natural movement of the hand.

South to North
The buzzy boutique that specializes in bringing international brands to the Bayou City has recently welcomed several new brands perfect for Houston summers. Available in-store, the brands include Sirapop, Lanthropy, Sara & Flora, and Salvarea.

Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott's latest collaboration for her Western-inspired line is with Austin-based country band Chaparral. The collection blends Texas ranch culture with elevated modern fashion. The collection includes jewelry, leather bolos, and statement pieces such as beaded bandana necklaces.

Photo by Laura Sanz Photography

South to North is bringing a fresh lineup of international brands to Houston this summer.

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