Chiffon and Cowboy Boots

I stopped at the wrong metro station with a vintage Brioni blazer, but no umbrella and no idea which of the large white tents housed Phoebe Philo and her newest creations for the House of Chloe. Trudging through the puddles of the Jardin de Tuileries, I grasped my invite (I swear I’m Alisa Annis of Footwear News).

After five minutes of mindless wandering, I found the hordes of Parisian fashionistas with their mud-stained Manolos outside the Espace Ephemère.I entered slightly soaked and walked down the runway, passing a throng of cameramen surrounding Parisian it-girl Lou Doillon in her green chiffon and cowboy boots. Shuffled into the back standing area, I scanned the front row: Anna Wintour (Vogue), Patrick McCarthy (W), Suzy Menkes (IHT) and a veritable plethora of other journalists, buyers and celebrities.

Quickly the Chloe minions ripped off the plastic sheath from the runway and the gentle, classic beats began. Strutting effortlessly onto the runway, the Philo blondes wore flowing washed silk skirts and effortlessly sexy black ankle strap shoes. Many of this season’s collections were jarring and outrageous-—like that of Alexander McQueen or Viktor & Rolf, whose most recent line was replete with pyrotechnics. Phoebe Philo had no charades. She filled Paris’s most beautiful gardens with nothing but class.

It is three in the afternoon in Paris as I leave Espace Ephemère, making it nine in the morning Cambridge. My mind wanders back to Harvard. The Yard is currently crowded with tired Chemistry concentrators and neurotic Starbucks junkies just leaving the garage with their Venti Triple Soy Lattes. Instead of delicate tuxedo shirts and elegant stilettos, there are North Face jackets, jeans and dirtied sneakers. In place of swinging arms and pouty lips, tense shoulders and downward stares make the criss-crossing runways from Boylston to Holworthy sloppy and out of sync.

Harvard students may not be known for their fashion savvy, but pockets of students break out of the mold. Instead of always popping the collar of the Lacoste, Harvard kids need to take their cues from HAUTE- and Eleganza and mix it up a bit—try Le Tigre. The VES junkies, Art History students and members of the Advocate are not the only ones who can rock a runway walk into the Science Center. Whether it’s preppy, chic, urban or intellectual, Harvardians need to take more risks when opening their wardrobes.

Here are five trends from this season’s runway collections to spice up a boring day in Cambridge:

• Nautical: whether you are sporting a pea coat on the Boston Harbor or just going for that slightly shipwrecked look, you can bank that this season is all about being at Sea.

• Out of Africa: You know you laughed at the kid who wore the t-shirt with the big tiger on it in middle school…or maybe you were the target. In any case, designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Cacharel weren’t laughing when they made this season’s safari wear. So go get ’em, tiger. I promise I won’t steal your lunch money.

• Bed Head: You’re 10 minutes late for section and it’s in Yenching. Don’t fret, don’t look in the mirror. Bed head was hot on many a Parisian runway. Put on your Sevens and a vintage tee and be on your way. If you’re really daring, you can even throw a leaf in your hair like Undercover designer Jun Takahashi (though you might get weird looks from your Japanese TF…).

• Vintage: it’s always cool to say you stole it from the parentals’ closet, but even if your parents didn’t wear Armani or awesome graphic tees, you can always head to a nearby thrift store and scrounge for bargains.

• Uber prep: many may bemoan the homogeny of popped collars, but Christopher Bailey couldn’t get enough in his collection for Burberry Prorsum. Try to switch up a bit with popped collars under sweaters, a t-shirt over a popped polo, or the inimitable double polo.