As the Paris 2024 Olympics mark 100 years since the French capital last hosted the Games, we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to look at the style of then and now. As with popular fashions, the Olympics have evolved a great deal in the last century, when they were the host of esoteric art competitions, as well as the sprints that launched the Chariots of Fire legend, courtesy of Scotsman Eric Liddell. The 1924 Olympics were a Games of many firsts and lasts, but what of the pervading styles of the era?
“What was most exciting about menswear in this time was the influence of Jazz culture,” explains Jonathan Daniel Pryce, the renowned streetstyle photographer who goes by the sobriquet Garcon Jon. “Tailoring became more relaxed and expressive with plaids and stripe details, while casualwear such as sweaters and plus fours gained popularity. That period was all about details so silk scarves, hats and footwear like two-toned shoes.”
Then as now, new fashions were pushed by the celebrities of the era. “Men like silent film star Rudolph Valentino and Edward VIII were prominent in influencing style,” says Pryce. “The period still focused on elegance but with the quickly changing cultural landscape of music and nightlife, style in Paris became more relaxed and lively.
The Roaring Twenties, also known as the Jazz Age, marked a significant turning point in men's fashion. With the end of World War I and the prosperity that followed, there was a shift towards more relaxed and modern styles. This was a time when men began to embrace fashion as a form of self-expression, and Paris played its part in the sartorial revolution, as much as it did in the cultural revolution.
Many people cite this decade as the start of the “Golden Age of Menswear,” while some even argue that the suit as we know it today evolved in the 1920s. The jackets of the ’20s were cut much more closely to the body to accentuate the natural waist. If you look at them today, they’re much closer to a body coat than a modern suit.
“Paris is the most exciting city on the street,” says Pryce, who continually hones his photography practice documenting street style throughout the world. He sees an unparalleled creativity in dress across the City of Lights: “Today, young people are pushing the boundaries - there’s definitely a more androgynous look in menswear, with earrings and handbags regularly worn on the street. Areas such as Le Marais are still filled with fashion kids hanging around the OFR bookshop. Silencio, Bar Principal, Chez Georges, and the brilliant speakeasy Serpent à Plume (run by Alex Nash above) are great places for people watching."
Is there a modern Parisian style? Certainly the likes of Hedi Slimane would have you believe that the Parisian aesthetic is almost exclusively black and skinny but the outfits one sees in Le Marais and Saint Germain are in reality far more eclectic and imaginative. There you'll find young Parisians adopting a more creative approach, borrowing elements from genres as diverse as tailoring and sportswear, creating a unique look that champions individuality over any prescriptive trends. To be 'fashionable' in Paris is to set your own style agenda and fully embrace it, an ideology we can fully get behind.
Get an insight into what Jonathan sees through his lenses by following him on Instagram @garconjon where you can also find links to his website, podcast, and print store.