To dress like a Parisian is to dress effortlessly. That is to say, one dresses imperfectly on purpose, is sexy, put together, and always chic. How can all of these things refer to only one style that is known as “Parisian?” Of course we know that Parisians have a huge variety of styles amongst themselves, but collectively they still seem to evoke a single style that can only be described as Parisienne.
I was made for this
I think Parisian style is one reason why I was born to be a Francophile. As a child I was always drawn to clean silhouettes, blends of neutral colors, and simple yet interesting designs. My mother on the other hand is always one for paisleys and bright colors and ruffles. She had trouble getting me to dress in the way she thought was feminine. To her credit, she never pushed too hard and let me choose most of my own clothing items (save for the occasional ruffled or bell sleeved shirt).
I remember watching “You’ve Got Mail” as an adolescent and loving every detail of Meg Ryan’s neutral sweater sets. For real! Her wardrobe was one of my favorite parts about that movie. The materials she wore, combined with the refined neutral palette of her clothing, made it all look so sophisticated and luxurious.
Le style Parisien
Stand out by blending in. I love wearing simple items and accessories that allow me to be seen through it all. This, it turns out, is the essence of Parisian style. You see? I was born for this.
Ok, so simple silhouettes, neutral colors, and nothing too fussy. But what does that look like? How does one actually take these staples of Parisian fashion to heart and emulate the look? Well, I’m here today to give you some pointers. C’est parti!
How to dress like a Parisienne
Step 1: Show a softer silhouette
No joke, I actually had to look up what “bodycon” referred to a while back. A body contouring, or bodycon, dress hugs every inch of your body and leaves nothing to the imagination. Think Kim Kardashian’s preferred looks. For a Parisienne, this is a firm “non.”
Choose softer silhouettes to leave a little to the imagination. It doesn’t have to be skin tight to be sexy. A staple of feminine Parisian style is actually a boyish, boxy silhouette.
If you like a tighter top, add some intrigue and contrast by pairing it with looser denim. Or vice versa: pair a flowy top with skinny jeans. Dressing Parisian is to dress with a little mystique, not leaving it all out on the table.
Step 2: Do less
The thing I love most about Parisian style is that you don’t have to fully accessorize your outfit, put on a full face of makeup, and perfectly style your hair. To do this is very anti-Parisienne. Instead, keep your wardrobe choices simple. This allows you to be seen through your outfit, not hidden behind it. Simplicity is the best Parisian accessory. So stick to only a few delicate pieces of jewelry and one statement accessory like a hat or scarf. C’est tout.
After all, wasn’t it Madame Coco Chanel who said, “Before you leave your house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Less is more, darling.
Step 3: Know thyself, and stick to it
I’m all for trying new trends in small doses, but I also know what works for me. This is my “uniform.” Skinny jeans, simple, loose top tucked in the front, and a figure flattering cardigan or jacket. Within in these items I like to have unexpected details, such as buttons up the back of the shirt, or a sweater with a lot of texture.
I’ll wear a pair of cute sneakers or ballet flats with this, sometimes a scarf, and c’est tout. Lastly, to accessorize I will wear earrings (sometimes studs, sometimes a statement pair) and my favorite delicate chain bracelets.
In my uniform I feel confident, ready to take on the day, and comfortable in my own skin. I have a variety of items that work together in this way, so I never feel like I’m wearing the same thing over and over (after all, I did attempt a capsule wardrobe recently).
What is your personal "uniform?"
So, find a formula that works for you, and embrace it! This goes along with that sense of “être bien dans sa peau,” or being comfortable in one’s skin – another French mantra to live by. What makes you feel confident, sexy, and comfortable? A pencil skirt and blouse? Jeans and a tshirt? An A-line dress? Whatever it is, it’s ok to stick to it rather than going for flashy trends that may or may not work with your style. Play up your style, instead of copying someone else’s.
Step 4: Stop flashing your labels around
I used to own approximately 100,000 Coach bags. One in every color, material, season, and occasion. It became a bit of a problem. I thought wearing the label on my bag gave me some sort of mysterious status in the world, but you know what? I started to notice that everyone else had Coach bags too. It became such a norm in my world that I stopped wearing them just because they said “Coach.”
I sold all my flashy labeled bags and kept the ones that had beautiful style without advertising where I bought them. As a result I was much happier, and felt much more sophisticated. These days I’ll buy a bag because of it’s beautiful buttery soft leather in a gorgeous shade of cognac. Not because it has a giant label under the strap.
It's the quality, not the label, that matters
Dressing like a Parisian does not mean wearing all the French designer labels one can find. Rather, it is about allowing your personal style to shine through. So yes, buy the best quality you can afford. But you don’t have to make sure everyone knows where it’s from.
How you wear the clothes is much more important than advertising what you can afford.
Step 5: Love your imperfection
I very much enjoy following Jeanne Damas on Instagram. Jeanne is a Parisian style icon and founder of Rouje, Recently I saw a video on her feed in which she describes what classifies her very Parisian style. “I love everything that’s a little blurry. Imperfect. I’m not searching for imperfection, on the contrary I think that’s the Rouje spirit: Perfect imperfection.”
Jeanne’s style consists of hair that looks to have been air dried or slept on without much maintenance. She also makes simple wardrobe choices with unexpected accessories. For instance, she will wear anything from straight leg Levi’s with a dressy camisole and heels, or sneakers with a tasteful dress. And always blush and lipstick, but not an overly made up face. She never looks perfect, but she is oh so chic.
To Dress like a Parisian is to dress like your true self (with a little finesse)
If I’m honest, I’ve been searching for the right mixture of Parisian style my whole adult life. I admit that when I was younger I followed trends or dressed like whom I thought the “cool girls” were. But it never made me happy, and I always felt I was just missing the mark. Maybe it’s a happy consequence of being in my 30’s, but these days I dress for myself, and not for others around me. It’s a liberating feeling to feel cool and confident in a style I’ve chosen for myself. And also to know what works for me, and what doesn’t.
Dressing Parisian in the real world
But don’t get me wrong: many, many days I wear a simple mom uniform of yoga pants, a tshirt, and sneakers. It gets me through school drop off and pickup, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, and running errands. While there are plenty of those days in the week, I still try to reflect my personal style in small ways by putting on a few pieces of jewelry or a pair of earrings, or doing my makeup even if I won’t be leaving the house.
So, I encourage you to take these tips on dressing like a Parisian and think about how it works with your personal style. There is not one dress code for dressing à la Parisienne. That is to say, it’s about leaving a little to the imagination, knowing what works on your body, and not expecting perfection from yourself. And lastly, it’s about embracing all of that with confidence. That’s where you reach the mysterious je ne said quoi.
Happy dressing!
Grands bisous-
geneviève
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