Buyers Behind the Scenes: Paris S/S ’27

Join members of the Harry Rosen Buying team behind the scenes on a buying trip to Paris for Spring/Summer 2027.

By: Sun Woo Chung

As a buyer for Harry Rosen, I’m often asked by friends what it’s like to head out on a buying trip. It’s one of the most exciting parts of the job — travelling to some of the world’s fashion capitals, discovering new collections, and seeing the clothes firsthand before they arrive in our stores. Of course, it also means long days and packed schedules, but that’s part of what makes these trips so rewarding: spending time with our partners, discovering what’s next, and finding the pieces we’re excited to bring to our customers.

Just a few weeks ago, our Senior Divisional Merchandise Leader, Alex Binette, and I travelled to Paris to visit some of our vendors, reviewing their Spring/Summer ’27 collections and getting an early look at what’s to come. Here’s what we got up to on our trip.

DAY 1

Alex and I arrived in Paris on a red-eye from Toronto and checked into our hotel in the 9th arrondissement. We enjoy staying in this area because it has a more local feel, with the Canal Saint-Martin nearby and plenty of cafés and shops to explore.

While waiting for our rooms to be ready, I grabbed a coffee at Bonjour Jacob by the canal and spent some time people-watching. Paris was coming off a heat wave, with temperatures still above 35°C, so the canal had become a popular spot for people looking to cool off.

Once my room was ready, I had less than an hour to get settled and ready before meeting Alex for our first appointment at Acne Studios.

At Acne Studios, we saw a continued shift toward slimmer pant silhouettes, which began to emerge in FW26. The brand has brought back its 1996 denim fit with an updated shape, and trompe l’oeil denim remains an important part of the collection. We’re also trying more tailoring in the collection this season with a faded black waxed cotton suit separate that is lightweight and perfect for summer.

After the appointment, the jet lag was starting to catch up with me, so I grabbed a quick dinner at Ramdam, a restaurant close to the hotel, before calling it a night.

DAY 2

The next morning, we walked over to our KENZO appointment. appointment. Rather than a traditional runway show this season, KENZO took over Place des Victoires with a series of pop-ups celebrating the brand’s history and its connection to the neighbourhood. KENZO opened its first boutique in the square in 1976, making it a particularly meaningful setting for the takeover.

The square was transformed into a collection of spaces, including a café, flower shop, Japanese konbini (convenience store), pop-up featuring the FW26 collection, and showroom.

The collection also paid tribute to the location. This silk shirt features an illustration of Place des Victoires as it looked in years past, while Nigo curated a selection of Japanese magazines for the konbini.

One of the highlights was the flower shop, which featured striking blue-dyed flowers we hadn’t seen before. In the pop-up, Kenzo Takada’s original desk sat in the middle of the store — a great piece of the brand’s history brought into the space.

We then headed to the Comme des Garçons Homme showroom. We’re excited to be launching the brand at Harry Rosen this fall! One of my favourite pieces from the collection was this beige wool blazer, which takes inspiration from a classic pilot jacket with its gusseted shoulders and zipper detailing.

After the appointment, we grabbed a quick lunch at the showroom, joining other buyers on the ground with a plate in hand. This is what buying trips really look like! Not every meal on the trips come with a table and a view — sometimes you just grab a quick bite and keep moving.

Then, we shuttled over to Casablanca (there was AC in this showroom thank goodness!). The most prevalent trend across all collections was long shorts (Bermuda and capri-length), and Casablanca was no exception. We also loved the small details like the beaded papaya motif on an oversized white tee.

Then we went over to Drôle de Monsieur – they moved over to a beautiful new showroom by Parc Monceau, where Victoria Beckham used to show her collection. As per usual, the collection looked eclectic, featuring bold prints and colours.

We ended our day at Barena, I love the blue suede overshirt we selected for Spring/Summer ’27 — and I can’t wait for you to see it in person too when it’s in the store!

DAY 3

We had a few appointments on our final day and saw some new brands for us, including Our Legacy. Our Legacy is a new brand we’re bringing in for SS27 to capture a younger clientele. It’s gained popularity over the last few years, especially with its Camion square-toe boots and washed denim. They’re known for blending vintage inspiration with modern silhouettes, creating elevated wardrobe staples that feel timeless.

We then visited some cool stores in Le Marais. Rendez-Vous was our first stop, it’s known for its understated slow-fashion approach to luxury menswear and womenswear. They carry brands such as Orslow, Lemaire, and Comoli — very trendy today.

We also visited a cool concept store called Leclaireur Sevigne with a curated approach to fashion, art, and design. It had both avant-garde designers and more minimalistic brands like Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela, and The Row.

We wrapped up the day a little early, so we grabbed a matcha and made our way to the Bourse de Commerce to see Fujiko Nakaya’s Cloud exhibition. The contemporary art museum is known for its striking circular rotunda and immersive installations, making it the perfect setting for Nakaya’s work.

The installation filled the museum’s central rotunda with fog, creating an ever-changing environment where the architecture, light, and visitors seemed to appear and disappear within the cloud. It was a surreal experience and definitely one of my highlights from Paris this season!