I love street style.
Watching what is happening on the streets is the best way to appreciate and learn about fashion … A city like Paris can change your way of thinking in minutes… it is hard to know where to look… and sometimes Paris can be a full-on sensory overload… but that’s all good, because from that, new ideas and ways to re-invigorate our look and our wardrobes evolve… Sometimes the addition of one accessory, a new style of shoe or a cut of pant… can not only make us look more stylish and up to date but also make us feel so much more chic…
Last week in Paris it seemed to me that all the girls were wearing oxford/brogue lace ups with shorter jeans and pants… boyfriend style or straighter leg… but definitely an above the ankle pant… I understand that you could be thinking… ‘school shoes’… is she crazy? Let me say, there was nothing schoolmarmish about the girls I saw wearing these shoes… and there was no age limit either… older, younger and in-between were looking pretty fabulous in their lae-ups. Those brave enough were changing the laces … adding a dash of colour…
The brogue has replaced the ballerina… when we are talking flats at least… and flats did seem to be out and about… This is great news for those of us who find heels a trial… Don’t for a moment think I am giving up my heels… after all, a heel is a heel is a heel… and nothing changes an outfit like a heel… but there are days when comfort must prevail… Truthfully, I am so delighted to swap my ballet flats for a brogue…
So this weekend… I am lacing up my new Oxfords, taking them out and giving them a walk… xv
FOR THE ‘PARIS’ WEEKEND LOOK
Suede Oxfords… here
Colourful Shoelaces… here
Stunning Studded and Patented Leather Brogues… here, here and here
Around and Around the neck Parisian Style… here
More Cropped Blacks… for a little texture… ‘jacquards’ here… for comfort… here
and my favourite J.Crews… here
Cropped Jeans… here... for a higher waist… here
Cashmere Crew for now… here…
The Oversized Sweater… here… a little geometric… here
To read more from French Essence click here…
The Oxfords are a Fall shoes. I love wearing them flat like in your picture above or with heels.. Have a Happy Autumn Weekend!!
And now… I can’t believe I am saying this… I am ready for autumn and winter…
They will look fabulous on you. I love the idea but just don’t think I’d be able to carry them off. I love your observations on street style. I am drooling over that gorgeous scarf. Have a wonderful weekend. Jx
Try Jess… you never know…
I love hearing what they are wearing in Paris…thanks Vicki!
xxx
and I love seeing what’s happening…
What a wonderful description of what this young woman was wearing, and you left the rest to our senses….only showing us a glimpse. I can see it.
Oh, French fashion, SO WONDERFUL!! Anita
I don’t know how they do it… I wish I could think of it rather than copy it!
I might try brogues, somehow though to my mind I don’t feel they can be as flattering on me as Chanel ballets or Roger Vivier flats? Have you got a pair/tried them??
Love seeing your new posts… Elle x
Yes…. and I love them.. I wear ballet flats so often that it is great to have a change from them.. a slightly new look never hurts… and I enjoy to mix it up a bit…
Oh La La – I love my brogue’s have been wearing that style for years – I also wear them with dresses which can be very cute. Love that bit of masculine mixed in my mostly feminine wardrobe, wing tip shoes with a bit of heel is also one of my favorite styles – all designers come up with a lovely brogue once in a while – I tend to buy them on the spot
Wonderful post!!!!
x
Eve
I like the idea of wearing mine with a full-ish skirt and sweater… maybe turtleneck… I just need to find the skirt…:)
Love the brogues….but do you think women in their 60′s can wear them without looking ridiculous?
Absolutely… it’s how you wear them (confidently) and what you wear with them that makes all the difference. A well fitting black pant, a smart sweater and a pair of brogues… nothing more stylish…
It makes sense that the season highlighting the ‘boyfriend pant’ and ‘his shirt’ has taking the oxford and slimmed it down to compliment the ensemble {and a lady’s dainty foot}.
I’d love a pair to wear with tights, a cord skirt and big sweater. Comfort!
Sounds great Katherine…
Well I can tell *someone* has had entirely too much fun working on this post! That’s ok as I had entirely too much fun reading it!
All right. Time to confess: This French Girl has been DYING to know where you and Sande found the fabulous brown pair of blogues she showed on her blog this week… I do not think they were the Zizi model by Repetto, but I could be wrong. I love Oxford shoes, even if good ones are not that easy to find. They work much better than ballet flats in the d.a.m.p. Seattle weather. Bon weekend, Vicki. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
My favourite French shoe shop… Andre… but the first link that i included is very close to the pair I bought…
Ha! I had bet on Eram… I lost, but not by much… Very fetching pair, I must say. Now I understand why Sande went back and got TWO pairs! That’s something most people would not do chez Repetto for obvious reasons
Phew. I can rest now. Merci et bon weekend, Vicki.
The Repetto ones… are different… too soft almost and don’t give that masculine/preppy look that is popular right now… Andre is amazing quality for the price… my first port of call with friends who are travelling to France… and who like shoes…
I am going to need this link for coloured shoelaces Vicki, the three I brought back won’t nearly be enough once I get going this winter. Great work on the link on the oxfords too………..they are very similiar. Oh dear…..I am going to need a few of those shorter pants too. Ahhh, fashion never ends does it? Happy weekend Vicki. Last week at this time we were snoozing on the train. xx
I just trotted out in mine… super comfortable… I think I will wear them every day… have that feeling…
Sigh. Well I love all of this but can afford to buy none of it (although I really appreciate that you also included a budget friendly pair) so I guess I’ll have to trot out a vintage pair of Gucci’s that may be a bit beat up but are better than nothing. Let’s hear it for shopping in the closet!!! Yay!!!
Bon Weekend.
Just bought a pair + good advise! xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Peggy, I think you will love them… I have had mine on all day and loved wearing them…
I don’t think the oxfords will look good on me.. but I do like the ISABEL MARANT scarf. JCrew has really added some nice pieces for fall and winter. I just bought a tweed skirt with a little burgundy in it to wear with leggings and boots. There’s also a burgundy blouse that’s gorgeous.. need to order that too! Mail ordering can be tricky .. fortunately JCrew is true to size so it’s usually a safe bet and their quality is good. Oh, and that boyfriend cashmere.. need that too! Have a nice weekend!
Happy shopping leslie…
Wonderful news as being 5 ’11″ tall I only do FLATS!!
Ps Guess what came in the mail yesterday!!!!!Your second book!,,,Guess I did order it too!What a treat for me!
Xxx
Oh to be 5’11″…. these are definitely for you…
I have not seen this trend happening here so this is good to know! Will have to find a pair.
PS.At Anthro yesterday new store here close to me in Walnut Creek,California and they had French Essence!!!Your still HOT in America!!!!
That is such great news! Nice to be wanted…
Finally! A shoe for me!!! Shopping, here I come.
I love these shoes … I also love those jacquard pants!
Have a lovely weekend.
I like that whole look! I don’t have those kind of shoes anymore, but I do have biker ankle boots worn with tights right now.
You actually are tempting me with this post Vicki. I used to wear lace up white bucks, it was the style back in the day with long knee-grazing chiffon skirts–but I always felt they made my feet look big. Perhaps I will re-think, maybe a darker color would look better.
xo Mary Jo
They would look great on you Mary Jo… I am sure… try some black ones and see…
Hi Vicki – So up my alley. Got it, love it – thank you!
Oh no Vicki, my short, stubby legs can’t bear the thought of brogues! I’d look like a cross between Margaret Rutherford & that Pommy Dog Trainer Barbara WhatsHerName, you know, the ‘Walkies!” lady. All that’s missing is the sensible tweed skirt. On this occasion my dear, I’ll have to leave the trend setting to you.
Millie xx
No sensible tweed skirts worn here Millie…
I have been wearing my brogues all winter as they are a favourite of mine so was thrilled to hear about the girls in Paris, just need to shorten those pants now. Thank you for the fashion updates, love reading about it and seeing your photos Vicki.
IT’s funny how the length of the pant can change the whole look… Something for next winter…
Fun shoes but definitely not feminine. I will never ever give up heels. Want to be buried with them to enter Heaven (?!) with style!
All the best,
Anne
I would never give up heels either… but I can’t walk in them day in day out… Sometimes a little masculine style with he feminine can be sexy too…
I love your idea of entering heaven with style…. I know you will…
I’ll do my best… Thanks ! One important question remains though: are they shoe and scarf stores in Heaven? If not, then this won’t be Heaven!
This said, I totally agree with you: a little msaculine touch can be very feminine and very sexy. Yves Saint Laurent proved it with his tuxedo line for women (Deneuve was sublime wearing a St Laurent tuxedo).
Have a lovely day … with heels or flat shoes…
xo,
Anne
Strange I was forced to wear Oxford shoes in school. Couldn’t wait to change into ballet slippers. Years latter I realized
how much better the oxford is for your feet. The leaves are turning colors in Maine. I love the Fall. Have a great Sunday. yvonne
love to sketch from your eyes.
my 13 year old fashionista daughter bought a pair of brogues.
i have to photograph her…
pve
Please do Patricia… and then illustrate them for us… that could be very cute…
Thanks for allowing us to “almost be there”….next best thing at least:) Cannot imagine a more inspirational city to observe street fashion in…..they could be wearing plastic flip flops and it would look like a million dollars:)
It would… buy they never would…
I like the idea of the brogues, they will give me a tiny bit of height which I don’t get from the flats that I also love. My sister picked up a pair of vintage PRADA brogues at a garage sale for $2 !!!
keep on blogging, we love it!
bee x
Ah, lucky me, I bought a pair of lace-ups in the spring, which will be just perfect. I, too, love street style, and even here in my tiny pacific northwest city, there are some fabulously stylish women.
I love that look – especially since I spent the weekend in heels, playing my harp for a wedding and presenting at an expo. My feet would have LOVED some oxfords!