Kerry Parnell: From old-fart fashion to Dior runways, dahling

Playing dress-up is a thing, from Barbie screenings to Taylor Swift concerts. Aussie stadiums were full of mother-daughter combos clad in sequins, having the time of their lives. It makes sense: you simply can’t be in a bad mood if you are sparkling company.

Kerry Parnell outside the Dior show (inset), and a model on the runway for Dior in Paris. Pictures: AFP

Want to know the secret to feeling good? Dress up.

“You are very well-dressed,” the French customs officer declared as I passed through border control on my way to Paris, this week.

“Oh, merci,” I stuttered, confused. I walked off pondering if he was a) being sarcastic, or b) speaking to the person behind me.

But — mais non — he actually meant it.

Harried old chook, me, usually to be found in jeans, no make-up and rubbish hair, failing to combine working from home with jobs like remembering to collect my kids from school.

US actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives for the Diro show in Paris. Picture: AFP

The reason for the unusual compliment was because I was travelling in disguise – dressed as someone who actually cared about what they looked like and didn’t spend most of their week at a desk in the attic, sporting slippers.

And do you know what? It felt brilliant.

A model presents a creation by Christian Dior for the Women Ready-to-wear Fall-Winter 2024/2025 collection. Picture: AFP

I had been tasked with attending Paris Fashion Week and initially, on receiving the commission to end all commissions, my first thought was, naturally, what on earth would I wear?

I had to seriously up my style game and locate, from the recesses of my cupboard and mind, the formerly-put-together person I once was. Don’t get me wrong, I do regularly leave my house to interview people and manage to rustle up things like shoes, but Paris Fashion Week was a whole other level.

As, ahem, “several” years have passed since I was office-based, which have taken their toll on both my wardrobe and my face, I concluded my old-fart fashion future would now be all about quality fabrics.

If you feel nice, you look nice. So, with this in mind, I plumped for fancy pants, silk shirt, blazer and even knotted a little silk scarf around my neck.

Swities at Accor Arena. Picture: Christian Gilles

I hardly recognised myself – but this style stranger had an absolute blast. It felt wonderful to dress up and play Parisian for a few days, tottering about and eating croissants.

But most of all, making such an effort, was extremely uplifting, mentally.

Who knew? Well, lots of people, it seems.

Playing dress-up is a thing, from Barbie screenings to Taylor Swift concerts. Aussie stadiums were full of mother-daughter combos clad in sequins, having the time of their lives. It makes sense: you simply can’t be in a bad mood if you are literally sparkling company.

As Swifties have known for years, getting dressed-up is good for your mental health. “Dopamine dressing” – wearing smart clothes, or bright colours – can significantly improve your outlook.

“Clothing is linked to our self-esteem,” explains performance and confidence coach Olivia James.

“It’s surprising how much of a boost you get from wearing something well-cut. You are sending a signal to yourself and the world that you take care of yourself, that you matter and that you don’t want to hide.”

Stylist Abbey Booth agrees. “I firmly believe personal style is a kindness to yourself, it’s a beautiful form of self-care, expression and compassion,” she says. “Clothes are integral to our confidence, self-esteem and how we show up to the world.”

In other words, bling it on.