À la mode

Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world, and it's hard not to be influenced by it. As I get older, my preferences on my everyday wardrobe change. The environment influences us, and I can't help but notice the social conformity when I observe my surroundings.

From a more psychological standpoint, people want to dress like their environment more often than not, probably due to the sense of security it brings when you "blend in." We do judge books by its cover; hence, the reason why we "dress to impress" or have "dress codes" in the first place. When we feel good in our clothes, we naturally act like ourselves and nothing looks better than confidence.

I got this dress last summer from a slow-fashion, handmade brand in Barcelona.

I think style is a beautiful and unique form of self-expression. Additionally, I would argue that it is also a form of armour to protect yourself from perceived threats. I'll expand on this from my own introspection.

When I first moved to Paris about four years ago, I mostly brought summer clothes. To have moved from the nearly, endless summers of Texas to cloudy Paris - I don't know what I was thinking. I didn't even understand the concept of layering even though I had a decade of my childhood in the midwest and used to get ready for school by placing my long johns on the floor heater. I had truly assimilated to the Texan heat and brought the cutest summer dresses, crop tops, and shorts. It was mid-August in Paris, and I was ready for at least another month of warm weather.

Oh, but I was so wrong. It was already a bit cool the week I arrived. Back then, I cared more about what people thought and was easily influenced by my "friends" at the time. I wanted to fit in so badly and was afraid to be abandoned, because to me "fitting-in" meant being safe, which is associated to being treated better and to not being questioned of my place. I didn't want to be targeted as a tourist if I went into the city centre, because of the way I dressed, or be left out when my "friends" were talking about certain clothing brands etc. I ended up shopping from some fast-fashion brands just to have a cheap and quick winter wardrobe. Some of those clothes I can still wear to this day, and others I have sold on Vinted.

My style has evolved and adapted to that of my environment. I would describe my style as having been more "bohemian" in Texas, but now more city-chic/conservative. Opting for midi length dresses or skirts to my once upon a time mini dresses, and even choosing to bring a jacket with me "just in case". Looser fitting clothes are a comfort. In fact, the best way to describe Parisian style in my opinion would be to call it faux effortless.

There is this impression that you did not try too hard when you left your house. Minimal to no make-up, comfortable shoes, a basic t-shirt, jeans/trousers, and loose or softly pulled back hair (either by a scrunchie or a hair clip). Less is more. Yet, in actuality there was a lot more thought put in when choosing the neutral tones, the accessories, and the layers. So that if you take off your jumper at the restaurant, your undershirt is just as simple and cute. Or maybe that's just me haha. I can only speak for myself and my observations after-all.

I got this shirt from Vinted, but the dress is an old one that I had for a few years from a fast-fashion brand.

To capture the faux effortless style of Paris specifically into words, I would recommend these points to consider.

• Be a conscientious shopper

One thing I noticed about the people around me is that people really do consider being more ecological if possible. People still buy from fast-fashion of course, but people can also find great finds from those brands second-hand. I think at least being aware of the ecological impact whether by buying on Vinted or at a friperie (second-hand shop) is a great start when learning about style. Then, for some really big investment pieces, you can always treat yourself from a more expensive but quality-worthy, slow-fashion brand.

• Learn your colour season

In the last year, I have found myself really enjoying this YouTuber's content regarding colour season and Kibbe body style. I think as humans, placing us in some categories help us to process information better. Thus, I would find out your base season and cater to those colours more if possible; but even if you just want to wear your favourite blue shirt, that's fine too. Colour seasons are more recommendations on which colours may bring out your natural tones better. The Kibbe body type is a bonus to consider for your style and understand how to dress for your body structure.

• Invest in good outerwear

Summer isn't very long in Paris. Since we're mostly wearing a coat for 75% of the year, I recommend getting different styles of transitional and winter coats. Cater the length to your height, so that you can find a balance without drowning in a too big or too long of a coat. Invest in dark colours for those evening soirées or rainy days, and have at least one neutral colour such as beige or grey depending on if you are warm or cool toned. Keep a scarf handy at all times. Something about keeping your neck warm completes the look and is easily removable if you get warm on the metro. Your scarf or other accessories can be your pop-of-colour. If you prefer brighter or coloured coats, that can be your statement piece while the other parts of your outfit can remain neutral.

• Practical shoes

If you don't support leather, buy vegan leather shoes. A pair of good rain and winter boots is a must here. I personally love chelsea boots on everyone for the colder months, white sneakers or converse for every-day, mocassins or flats for work, and classy sandals during the summer. There are plenty of other styles and it takes time to build a collection, but your feet health matter. It's better to invest in a good pair of shoes that you will wear for years than to have to buy a new pair next year, because you got something made of cheap material (speaking from personal experience here). Clothes get changed out of every day, but shoes, you may wear the same pair the whole week. Invest in good material and quality shoes, so they can take you everywhere you need to go comfortably.

• Learn your materials

I am still learning this one too, but materials make a huge difference on the longevity and quality of the clothes. Opt for cotton, linen, wool, cashmere if you can afford it, as best as you can. Synthetic materials may pill or leave you feeling hotter or colder than you would like in your outfit.

• Layers, layers, layers

Not as relevant for summer time unless you want to wear a white, linen button down on top of your look. Sometimes a peek-a-boo of a basic collared shirt or a t-shirt can add dimension to what would normally be a very plain or structured pullover. Plus, you can remove layers if you get warm or add them back if you get cold. For circumstances outside of your control, and you need to cover your derrière you have that extra layer to save the day.

• Basics

When in doubt with what to wear, pair a t-shirt with trousers or jeans. You cannot go wrong with simple basics. Buy cotton t-shirts in various sleeve lengths, fits, and colours to wear as undershirts or even as the main shirt. Make sure you have some favourite jeans to wear in both lighter and darker washes. Trousers in black, brown, beige, navy, grey, white, and stripes are great to keep in your closet on hand. As long as your foundation is set, you can add whatever coat, jumper, vest, and accessories you see fit.

• Choose trends carefully

Trends will come & go. It's not always easy to know which trends will stay for more than one season, but I would even push to try trends a year later. If it lasts, it'll still be trendy next year too and cheaper since it was at its peak last year. This way, you don't lose money or closet space for something you will wear only a few times. Lean towards classic styles that have been around for decades, because there's a reason those styles are still fashionable to this day. However, no one is going to fault you if you jump on the bandwagon for a season.

I realise I don't take enough photos of my cute outfits, but here I am last autumn in London wearing lots of neutrals. Can you tell my base colour season is autumn?

I am still learning about style and fashion for fun. I find it interesting, and it sometimes lets me feel like I can give a whole different vibe but still be me. Sometimes, I want to be cosy and wear a large jumper. Sometimes I want to look professional and wear my blazer with trousers. Sometimes I want to feel like a girl in Bridgerton and wear my floral corset top with a long, white skirt that I have to lift up every time I go up the stairs to exit the metro - it just depends on the day.

The fun thing about being an adult is that as we achieve more stability in our life, so we hope, we can invest in having fun with clothes and gaining confidence by accepting the way we look. We can accentuate the best parts of our features through style, and that is sublime.

These are just some of my thoughts on style since moving to Paris. This topic can go down a lot of other venues when considering personality, personal beliefs, and feasibility. Thank you for reading my thoughts on style. I hope this gave you some insight on la mode Parisienne. One should still feel free to wear whatever makes them feel their best, but I hope learning a bit more on things I noticed was still informative. Each city has its own personality, trends, style, and people that truly make the place. I think the French allure in fashion comes from appreciating natural aspects of beauty and investing in quality.

Merci,

Simi

#fashion #style #paris #french