PARIS STUDY TRIP

What struck me most was this embroidered Alexander McQueen dress. And I stood there, staring at this dress for as long as I can remember and before I knew it, I was crying. No word could describe how beautiful it was. - sharing from Lim Will Sern

To say that Paris is amazing is an understatement. The city itself was one that anyone could’ve fallen in love with. The experience to be in a great city like Paris was unlike other. The atmosphere, the architecture, the art scene, the fashion scene and the culture itself, I believe, was an entirely different experience from what you would normally see in those travel shows or illustrated in travel guides. This experience has been an exciting one as well as a mind opening one.

We had to be independent about everything especially when it came to spending. Although I was given a reasonable amount of money to spend, I had to be cautious of what I was spending as I didn’t want to end up broke in one day! Another part was to be punctual. Wherever we go or wherever we meet up, we had to be on time. Otherwise, SOMEBODY will get in trouble with the lecturer! Also, this trip has made me become more appreciative of the beauty that’s around me and life itself.

The places that we went during the entire trip were great and wonderful. Yet, there was one very special place that stayed with me for as long as I can remember and it was visiting a fashion exhibition at Musee des Arts Decoratifs. The exhibition was mainly about the history of lingerie and undergarments.

We proceeded to second floor of the exhibition where we saw runway and couture pieces from fashion designers like Iris Van Herpen, Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons and many more. What struck me most was this embroidered Alexander McQueen dress. And I stood there, staring at this dress for as long as I can remember and before I knew it, I was crying. No word could describe how beautiful it was. And that was truly an unforgettable experience.

EVERYTHING was great. The shopping, the places we went and the pastries. But it was the art museums and galleries that were beyond anyone’s imagination and expectation especially Palais de Tokyo. There were exhibitions of the weird, wonderful, surreal, mind blowing, breathtaking, inspiring and sexually explicit.

This trip also opened up about the possibilities of what Fashion Design was really about. It was more than just a piece of dress or a pair of pants. Fashion is an expression - An expression of one’s inner thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Whether the dress was ripped apart and sewn again or delicately and intricately made, the expression never dies.

If given the opportunity, I would definitely go to Paris again. There are so many places that I have yet to explore and discover. And also, to relive the experience again. So to sum up everything, Paris is the BEST CITY EVER!

-Written by ESMOD’s student