When you think of the most stylish women in the world, the Mecca of all-things-fashion, what city is it that you think of? That’s right. Paris. The one and only. Home to more fashion designers and fashion houses then you can shake a Louboutin at. So it stands to reason that the local inhabitants would also be exceedingly stylish. The good news is that you don’t need to be a Parisian, or have the bank account of one, to dress with their unique fashion joie de vivre!
Black and white stripes – It’s a decidedly French classic, and it can’t help but give the wearer a decidedly stylish French air. You can pair tops like this, this, this, and this with pants and skirts of bold colors, or something as simple and relaxed as jeans. You can also wear your French stripes in the form of a chic pencil skirt, or lovely fit-and-flair dresses like this and this.
Minimal, delicate jewelery – While Parisian style can be larger than life, not since the days of Marie Antoinette it seems, will you see them dripping in layers of big, ornate jewelry. The jewelry trend for them has been thin and delicate for so long that it’s more a way of life than a trend now. And you can incorporate the same delicate beauty into your wardrobe through necklaces like this, this, and this, earrings like these and these, and rings like this, this, and this.
Clean, simple lines and relaxed silhouettes – More often than not, Parisian women will opt for a relaxed silhouette rather than a skin-tight fit. You too can look for the same, so long as you remember a critical detail: “relaxed” is not sloppy or baggy. And though the lines are quite simple, the fabrics can be filled with pattern, color, and texture, as can be seen in gorgeous crop tops like this and this, or this bright pleat-front blouse, ultra-cool culottes like these and these, or even this striking colorblock pleat ponte skirt.
White button-down – Clean, feminine, versatile, light, airy, and crisp…the button-down white blouse has been, and always will be, an effortless classic in any Parisian-inspired wardrobe. Layer it under sweaters and jackets in cooler weather, wear it alone, or open over tank tops and camis during the warmer months. And, anything but boring, it can always be dressed up, or dressed down, depending on what the occasion requires. Some love-worthy contenders include this swiss dot, this Vivienne Westwood stunner, this sheer silk, this demure bow-neck, and this fancy linen tuxedo top.
Kitten heels – Can’t you just imagine Audrey Hepburn delicately gliding over the Paris cobblestones in a pair of delicious kitten heels? We certainly can! Kitten heels are the perfect balance of “dressy” and “comfortable,” without sacrificing one single ounce of Parisian style. In terms of the ultimate kitten heel perfection, it doesn’t get much better than these patent Michael Kors, these edgy Valentinos, and L.K. Bennett classics like this snake print or this slingback. And of course, you can’t speak of Parisian shoes without bowing down to the first name you think of in that category… Christian Louboutin. And these nude Louboutin kitten heels are the sexiest you can get.
Image by Zdenko Zivkovic is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: flickr)