Paris Spring Fashion Week Must-Have: The Boyfriend Denim Shirt

Emmanuelle Alt, editor in chief of Vogue Paris, struts her denim in the Tuileries. Photo: http://the-northernlight.com.

This year at the Paris Spring Fashion Week, the boyfriend denim shirt happened to be everywhere. And by everywhere, I mean on everyone. There were boyfriend denim shirts with leather skirts or shorts, with black skinny pants and also paired with the bright-colored pants that are another hot spring item. It was apparent that the combinations are endless.I always thought the idea of the boyfriend anything was a bit played out. There are the boyfriend jeans and the boyfriend shirt, and I’ve even seen store windows showcasing boyfriend boots. Frankly, in a city where fashion can be so scrutinized, I didn’t think that a pair of boyfriend jeans à la Katie Holmes would really cut it as I ran weekend errands in the trendy Marais or traveled to and from the boulevard Raspail market in the chic 6th Arrondissement.

Balmain SS12 showcases the denim shirt with a high-waisted gold skirt. Photo: http://glamour.tumblr.com/post/10815177927/a-new-way-to-wear-your-fave-denim-shirt-balmain.

But I had a hunch about the boyfriend denim shirt, and for confirmation I asked my future/potential belle-soeur, who just happens to be the assistant stylist for one of France’s premier fashion magazines. My hunch was correct. The boyfriend denim shirt is most definitely in for spring and summer—which is a good thing in Paris since it’s a great layering piece, and layering pieces are always needed in the city of simultaneous sun and rain.
So I started searching for the perfect boyfriend denim shirt. I went to normal spots like H&M and Zara, and even tried the Kooples, but could not find anything that was THE boyfriend denim shirt. It was again my supercool belle-soeur who advised me to check out Espace Kiliwatch on the rue Etienne Marcel.

Espace Kiliwatch is a great spot to find your boyfriend denim shirt among other great Paris buys.

Espace Kiliwatch sells both new and good-condition vintage items for women and men. Unlike other vintage stores I’ve been to in and out of Paris, this one, with the subdued techno music and hipster staff, feels like a Brooklyn version of Colette. It was the perfect place to find the boyfriend denim shirt, and it was a shopping experience that left me feeling cooler than when I went into the shop.
The women’s denim shirts are in the front, and the men’s shirts are toward the back. Consider your size and what you’re really looking for, and take some time to explore the shop and find the one that fits you best. They’re priced anywhere from 30 euros to 60 euros.
Of course, with the vast collection of items at Espace Kiliwatch, I easily found a few other items to match my two newly purchased boyfriend denim shirts and had a new outfit for the weekend.
Related Links
The Kooples
Espace Kiliwatch
Rue Etienne Marcel
Colette
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