Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! After yesterday's morning tea party,…
What to Wear: Parisian in November
As you might have noticed from my photos, my travel wardrobe for Paris pretty much revolved around black and gray. I’m glad I packed so dark because quite literally wearing any color at all immediately distinguishes you as a tourist. Everyone in Paris wears a strict uniform of black, gray, denim and maybe a little cream. The result is that even large crowds of people look remarkably color coordinated and elegant. If you want to dress like a true Parisian, here’s a guideline:
Femme
Sweater – Tunics and cowlnecks were both big.
Jeans – They seem to love the Gap in France, I think it’s because they have better things than the US version.
Boots – Absolutely everyone wore boots everywhere. It was amazing how many boots they had for sale. The Frenchie-Payless store where I bought mine had at least 35 different styles for sale.
Coat – With lots of volume.
Scarf – Always a must have when it’s that cold out.
Hat – They loved these floppy beret beanies.
Homme
Car Coat – Every man in Paris seems to have a nice wool coat like this. Worn with the color flipped up in the back, of course.
Jeans – A nice mid-wash pair.
Sweater & Scarf – Navy blue…a pretty risque variation from black.
Pointy Shoes – This one seemed odd to me, but they really rocked it.
Baguette – It was adorable to see men “bringing home the bread” after work. No bag, just a napkin to carry it home.
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Ok .. so I just found your blog (somehow). I never know exactly how I ‘find’ anything on the internet – it is such a web – next thing you know you are 20 sites from the original one you logged on to look at.
Anyway, I LOVE your blog! I especially love the ‘what to wear’ sections. I am a wedding photographer in Cincinnati and am seriously ‘fashion-challenged’. I’m more of an ‘artist’ and that means I am forever attracted to the ‘novelty’ items. They just suck me in. Then I never have anything to wear them with (except more novelty items) – UGH.
So, I am following a lot of the advice I find here (and on Tim Gunn’s show)! I just wanted to say thank you. I know I like to check up on the people who look at my blog. I thought you’d appreciate the same: http://www.neysaruhl.com (if you are interested)
Hi N! Welcome and thanks for the nice comments!
I just discovered your blog and I’m really enjoying it! The Paris posts are so fun – I’m still dreaming about going someday…keep up the good work!!
Love the outfits! I adore wearing black.
aside.. When I was in Paris in July.. I did not find the bagette thing charming. I saw several men biking home with bread under their very sweaty pits. yuck. 🙂
I just got back from a talk given by a French scientist and he was totally wearing pointy shoes. Thought of you!
Funny about the pointy shoes on men! I just noticed a man wearing a pair of these 2 days ago in Las Vegas and found myself pondering it for a moment. Maybe he was French?!
Living in NYC and packing the same things for trips that I’d wear at home means I’ve always blended in fairly well in Europe… Forget color (though you’re right about it), I’ve never understood tourists who carry special “travel” bags–why mark yourself as a tourist? Why not carry the regular tote you’d carry at home? Ah, the puzzlement.
Am in Paris now, in the heart of the 5eme. Hope to check out the Cluny during the tremendous rain/wind storm we’re getting Sunday….