Parisians spent 2001 turning pragmatic layering into an art form. Oversized trench coats cut from lightweight gabardine were cinched with sporty webbing belts, while pleated midi skirts fluttered over cropped leather trousers. Fashion students, editors, and café regulars alike experimented with palettes of stone, lilac, and midnight blue, echoing the city’s moody skies after rain.

Accessories told the story of a metropolis balancing analog charm with new technology. Slimline mobile phones dangled from beaded wrist straps, and messenger bags hid MP3 players beside fountain pens. Street photographers documented the trend of mixing utility vests with silk camisoles, capturing silhouettes that moved effortlessly from studio visits to late-night shows on the Right Bank.

The look’s popularity encouraged local boutiques to collaborate with up-and-coming designers focused on sustainable sourcing and local production. By winter, curated pop-ups showcased recycled denim dusters and modular scarves, underlining how Parisian street style could be both environmentally aware and irresistibly chic.