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I find that a residential trip to Paris is never a hard sell to teachers or students, but for fashion and textile students this is not just a lovely trip abroad to a fascinating European capital, it is a pilgrimage to the birthplace of fashion itself. The History of Clothing in Paris You only need to walk down the Champs-Élysées or the Rue Saint Honoré to see how important style and clothing is on the streets of Paris today. What might surprise your students is how far the history of fashion goes back in the city. It can be argued that the idea of ‘fashion’ itself was born here in the seventeenth century at the court of Louis XIV. The grandeur of appearance was of the utmost importance to Louis, from his palaces and paintings to the clothes that he wore. The people at court, desperate to keep up with the king, began to change the styles they wore periodically to ensure that they were always wearing the latest trends. This is where the idea of ‘seasons’ first appeared. While the importance of stylish clothing may have waned slightly after the revolution, it reappeared again in the nineteenth century when designers or ‘couturiers’ began to establish their own ‘houses’ in the city. By the twentieth century clothes design was a major part of the economy of Paris, with names like Coco Chanel and later Christian Dior taking it back to the top in the world ranking. The introduction of prêt-à-porter by Yves Saint Laurent in the 1960s cemented its position, making Paris Fashion Week one of the most important weeks in the fashion calendar. See the History of French Fashion While a stroll down any of Paris’ major clothes retail streets during your residential trip will show your students where French style is now, the really fascinating thing for them to see in the city is where it came from. Visit the Palais Galliera and the Musée de la Mode et du Textile for a chance to see the dresses, suits and accessories which gave the city its reputation. • The Palais Galliera Any student of clothing or textile history won’t fail to be in awe of the collection at the Palais Galliera. This stunning exhibition of 2,000 items includes dresses from the seventeenth century, including some worn by Marie Antoinette, as well as iconic modern items such as Brigitte Bardot’s wedding dress (designed by Dior) and the Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. • Musée de la Mode et du Textile Another fascinating insight into the history of French clothing can be found at the Musée de la Mode et du Textile in Paris’ famous Louvre. The permanent exhibition follows fashion from the sixteenth century all the way through to modern times. It includes a breathtaking 81,000 items, including 16,000 outfits and 35,000 accessories. Textile students can discover details of the textile industry in France dating back to the fourteenth century as part of a collection of 30,000 pieces of fabric. A trip to Paris offers your fashion and textile students a wonderful opportunity to see the contrast between trends from the past and today, giving them an insight into how the industry has changed and developed over the centuries. To make sure you get the very most out of your residential trip, contact a specialist educational tour operator who will be able to tailor (pardon the pun) your trip to the areas of specific interest for your class. Author Plate John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in residential trip itineraries for school and youth groups to the UK, Europe and beyond. As a father and avid traveller, John is very passionate about providing students with valuable and engaging learning experiences outside of the classroom. By sharing his expert advice with teachers, he allows them to inspire their students and bring their studies to life.
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