Notes From Paris: The Essentials

Not literally notes but I took some time to watch the passing parade and make a few reflections around this.

The talk of Parisian women is endless, never ending and sometimes can almost feel too much. They are simply women like all of us and there are plenty of incredible women in our world. As much as I want to be the devil’s advocate and “take a break” from commenting about them, like it or not, I do find them different. Not good, not bad but consistently unique.

I truly don’t think they understand the fuss at all; they are who they are and that’s kind of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t believe they follow trends in the same way we do. They wear the same classic look, year in and year out but change up the weight of the fabrics to suit the season. Gucci might be parading patterns all over the runway and florals might be the dress du jour but French women aren’t buying into this trend. They are still wearing black, allbeit loose forming slip/tee dresses and sheath styles. They are wearing neutrals, plains and simple styles. A short boot, a flat and a stiletto pump are still the shoes, despite the season, with the addition of a flat open sandal and sneakers. It would seem to me that the Parisian girls like sneakers as much as we do.

I haven’t been in Paris in peak summer for some time, always favouring the cooler months.

The women I saw were practically dressed but retained an air of elegance and style. They were wearing simple dresses or jeans (still jeans) and tees; the monochrome being particularly popular. White jeans and a black tee with a pair of flats or sneakers never fail; I wonder why we forget this essential look sometimes. The LBD was relaxed and cool, with an emphasis on the slip style of dress.

And so often the red or the plum or the fuchsia lipstick; the shade less important than the depth.

It was too hot for jackets and yet I saw many lighter weight moto style jackets thrown on the backs of café chairs or peaking out from shopper style handbags. They look perfect over a slip dress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I realised what the Parisian women get right, why many of them are smart about fashion. They wear a style they are comfortable with, a classic look not dominated by seasonal trends and not something to change the world. They adapt it over and over but at the end of the day the ingredients are the same.

Parisian women do their own thing; in a strange way they wear a uniform of sorts. It happens to be one the world loves. xv

p.s and the Parisians do love that messy hair.