Black Women Killed Paris Fashion Week Street Style - 2023

Leave it to Paris Fashion Week to stir up thought-provoking conversations surrounding fashion media and designs. We found Bryan “Bryanboy” Yambao and Susie “Susiebubble” Lau responding to influencer criticism from Fashion Critics Lisa Armstrong from the Daily Telegraph and Vanessa Victoria Friedman from The New York Times. “I do often get asked why there are so many “Asian influencers” and you could divert it and say “Do you ask the same about why there are so many white editors?” But I’ll give it straight. Because growing up as Chinese diaspora in the U.K., I simply never saw myself in “those” spaces. So I made my own, online. It felt safer to use HTML and text to express my love of fashion than to apply for an internship or knock on magazine doors. I’m in awe of how the space has grown to accommodate so many. Nearly two decades on, we’ve come so far, and yet moments like this make me think, maybe not,” Lau ended a lengthy Instagram caption criticizing the lumping of Asian influencers and K-Pop stars together versus recognizing the stars individually.

And on the flip side, a celebration of fresh Parisian talent debuting collections as Creative Directors for luxury fashion houses like Harris Reed at Nina Ricci and Ludovic de Saint Sernin for Ann Demeulemeester. But, even in the midst of one of the buzziest Paris Fashion Weeks post-pandemic, black women killing Paris Fashion Week street style shines through all of that chatter. From femme-forward suiting to warn in leathers, black women served looks that gave the runways a run for their money. Check out the best Paris Fashion Week 2023 street style below, photographed by Whitley Isa. 

Photographer: Whitley Isa