The unmatched comic charm of French people during Fashion Week "On the sidewalk the fashion"

We don’t know if it’s the crowd, the chaos, or simply their natural grumpiness that intensifies under pressure, but one thing is certain: during Fashion Week, the French become particularly funny. So funny that Loïc Prigent has collected enough iconic and hilarious quotes overheard between shows to write not just one but two books, J’adore la mode mais c’est tout ce que je déteste ("I love Fashion but it's everything that I hate") and Passe moi le champagne, j’ai un chat dans la gorge ("Pass me the champagne, I have a frog in my throat"). The latest meme from Paris Fashion Week happened last Monday, when a woman dressed in blue mistakenly positioned herself behind Cardi B, her crow, and her fringed dress at the exit of the Couture FW26 Schiaparelli show, sparking the outrage of a paparazzo who yelled, “C’est quoi l’autre en bleu là, lady in blue MOVE”, which of course went viral. Even if the internet “don’t wanna be french”, could the french core still be users’ favorite?

After the “ridiculousSabrina” pronounced in a French accent towards Sabrina Carpenter a few months ago, the “Rihanna shine bright like a diamond”, again with a questionable accent every time Riri appears, the “ouloulou Billie” to Billie Eilish, or the well-known “Beyoncé are you happy to be in Paris”, French paparazzi have an unbeatable and globally beloved digital signature. Although they’re funny year-round, Fashion Week serves as their prime time, along with France and its fashion icons. No need to introduce the famous “sur le trottoir les fashion” ("on the sidewalk the fashion", pronounced by french a driver not so delighted to see the streets of Paris invaded by the fashion shows audience), cited even by those unfamiliar with the industry. But alongside that unbeatable reference, each season brings a wave of viral clips on social media of French paparazzi shouting in harsh accents, like the “show us ze bag” shouted at Doja Cat in 2023. Even celebrities leave their mark in this world of references, such as Aya Nakamura, who, when asked at the McQueen show for the FW24 collection “why did you come to this show,” simply replied “because I was invited.” Opinions on France may be divided—foreigners often see the French as grumpy and unfriendly, which is sometimes true—but if there’s one thing they undeniably excel at, it’s dropping gems and becoming internet stars, often unintentionally.