Salut, mes amis!
Before I start delving into all the little stories and
experiences I have from my time in the fabulous city that is Paris, I thought I
would start my series of Parisian posts with a topic that I had to address when
I was packing my suitcase: what do I wear while in one of the most fashionable
cities in the world?
This is a question women (and men) have been fussing over
for years now, and I think it’s safe to say that there are a few key things to
know before you go and blow all your money on a whole new wardrobe to take
abroad. The first thing, which I can say from experience, is that no matter how
hard you try, you WILL look like a tourist. To follow up with that, if you are
American, most of the French can see that even before you can utter a word of
your Franglish.
This next bit is directed at the ladies: let’s be honest,
unless we are born and bred in Paris, there’s no way we’ll ever have the same
graceful sophistication and aura that is exclusive to French women. So before
you twist your ankle in those stilettos while walking the cobblestone streets,
why not pack a few pairs of strappy sandals and some elegant looking flats? If
heels are necessary, I recommend pairs that have a thick or even a wedge heel.
Trust me, your feet and your dignity will still be intact by the end of your
trip!
Before I left, I did lots of research regarding what is
acceptable to wear while in the streets and while sightseeing. Many of the
articles I read suggested floral print sundresses, linen trousers, cardigans,
black pants, lots of neutral colors, etc. These are all things that I packed,
and they all worked for me and helped a little when it came to “blending in”.
The single motif I saw while browsing online though was the constant
condemnation of denim cut-offs. Having grown up in Florida, I practically live
in shorts, it’s too hot for anything else! While I don’t recommend “booty”
shorts per se, I don’t see anything wrong with short denim cut-offs, and I wore
them all over the place while in Paris! However, if you’re planning on going
into any of the cathedrals, (Sacre Coeur especially, they have guards to make
sure anyone with inappropriate clothing isn’t allowed inside) I suggest
mid-thigh length as the shortest you can go in terms of shorts and skirts, and
maybe covering up your shoulders.
A perfect example of denim cut-offs AND flat shoes, and she looks perfectly put-together!
Note: when in doubt, black is ALWAYS in style!
I promise, dressing well in Paris isn’t as difficult as it
may seem, because everyone does it! As long as you’re not wearing a fanny pack
or a pair of running shoes with your socks pulled up to your calves and a nice
Hawaiian print shirt, you should be okay!
Questions or comments on this post? Feel free to shoot me e-mail
at katieanne93@gmail.com!
Note: None of these photos belong to me.
