5 Styles to Try In Paris In 2018

While packing for my trip to Paris, I ran into a conundrum: how could I dress seasonably yet maintain adequate stylishness so I wouldn’t be labelled as an “Ugly American”? The answers were pretty simple:

1. “Ugly American” is more about an attitude rather than a style. Be kind to others and respect other cultures – easy peasy.
2. Wear practical, classic clothing with minimalist sensibilities. (Think monocromatic outfits, minimal jewelry, nothing overly trendy)

The rest is basically up to you.

Once I got to Paris and started walking around town, I noticed a few pieces that women and men in the city seemed to be unable to do without, so this post is devoted to that sense of style. If you want to wear trainers and sweatpants around the city when you visit – do it, no one will really care or notice either way. However, if you’d like to blend in with the crowd a bit, here are some pieces you should pick up before heading to the City of Light.

1. Black Leather Jacket: A little leather is just plain practical. It can go from a chilly Spring morning to a warm afternoon, and back to a cold evening dinner at a cafe. It’s the perfect cover up for Paris, and was worn in so many ways by all ages and all sexes. Stick to a moto-style or bomber jacket rather than a trench coat during the warmer months.
2. Scarves: Another staple of Parisian style seems to be a light scarf, worn in every way you can think of knotting it around the neck. Again, this wardrobe choice was a favorite for men and women alike, of all ages.
3. Stripes: Nautical stripes and berets seem like a bad old French stereotype, but if something looks good – why mess with it? I saw a lot of people wearing horizontal striped tops while walking around town (specifically this sweater), and a good amount of vertical striped trousers.
4. Monocromatic ensembles: Think all black, all navy, or for the adventurous, red from head to toe. Wild patterns and multicolored outfits weren’t seen much during my trip, but all black ensembles (topped with a black leather moto jacket of course) were a staple.
5. Sensible shoes: If you’re in Paris, you’re doing a lot of walking. I rarely saw anyone in heels while taking a stroll around town, and even sandals were in short supply. Sensible, comfortable, flat walking shoes or boots were the norm.

Tulle skirts, black tights with shorts, and dark (non-distressed) denim all made numerous appearances on the streets of Paris too!

As I said above, your style is your own, so if you want to wear ripped jeans and high heels in Paris – go for it! Most of the fashion trends I noted above were to show that even in the fashion capitol of the world, people dress for the weather and the occasion – but they look great while doing it.