Wandering Paris in the Best FW23 Runway Looks

Between shows, the lucky ones get lost in the Marais and stumble on a vintage store with ‘90s Chanel in the window. They happen upon the Eighth, where shoppers are queued up in their skinny jeans and tote bags. If you have a second between shows on the Rive Gauche, find a small wine bar on Rue Jacob who will pour goblets of sauv blanc served atop an old cask.

“Oh, to wander in Paris,” wrote Balzac in 1829, “adorable and delightful existence! Strolling is a science, the gastronomy of the eye to wander is to do nothing, to stroll is to live.”

What better way to reflect on the collections of FW23 than to put them to the ultimate Paris wear test. The best clothes of the season—from Rick Owens, The Row, Alaïa, and more—are primed for life. They will wander and work with you to bring slivers of beauty, freedom, and wonder to those spontaneous ambulatory moments.

Consider this definitive proof that Rick Owens’s mondo boots are built for strolling—and all the better when complemented by a recycled-down-filled “donut,” as Owens calls his washed denim wraps.

Moldovan designer Fidan Novruzova has built a cult following around her square-toed boots—quite ideal for long walks—but is ramping up her ready-to-wear enterprise to include fanciful everyday clothing for people whose lives require a ruffled dinner jacket and micro shorts. Consider these your new fanciful new fall essentials, cleverly made from waterproof nylon.

Kiko Kostadinov’s Laura and Deanna Fanning looked at historic garments that stood the test of time for their whimsical FW23 collection. Their lethally pretty ballet dress and hardcore belted boots will last in your closet, too, combining the sisters’ spritely nature with rugged durability.

Every city dweller requires a stately coat, but The Row’s Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen also suggest a pair of traffic-stopping gloves and a thin sliver of belt. The sisters know a thing about romanticizing a walk.

Dion Lee has a good solution should your flaneuse-ing take you close to the Seine: an inflatable, ice blue puffer. Pair it with ripped jeans and Lee’s new belted bag.

Alaïa’s studded catsuit is destined for sprinting—glamorously—through Paris, like Irma Vep. Think of it as the perfect upgrade to your stretchy attire—slinky, sexy, and complemented by lucite block heels.

Designers Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta of Eckhaus Latta know a thing or two about observing city style, having defined the contemporary New York look since they launched their brand just over a decade ago. Their hot pink knitwear and new furry shoes merit attention abroad, providing some spark to the gray streets and skies of Paris.