Hello! I’m back with a Parisian inspired outfit, one I wore just this past Valentine’s Day. We had a wonderful dinner night-in, and it was a good excuse to get dressed up!
Lately, the French way of dressing has really resonated with me, as I recently did some research to understand Parisian style. After all, the French are second to none when it comes to style – it’s effortless, cohesive, and a lot more sustainable. And these core characteristics are exactly how I want to build on my wardrobe. This video where Alexa Chung Learns How to Dress the French Way provides a glimpse into what I mean. Other Parisian influencers who inspire me include Aida of basicstouch and Jeanne Damas.
The 5-Piece French Wardrobe
More specifically, I stumbled upon the 5-Piece French Wardrobe. A concept similar to a capsule wardrobe, but with less restriction. The premise of it is to get rid of items you don’t wear (either items that don’t fit well or don’t suit your needs) while you build a strong wardrobe base full of quality basics. Think practical items that can be worn on a daily basis. Once this is done, add 5 statement/investment pieces to build on your wardrobe each season. There are 2 fashion seasons per year – Autumn/Winter, and Spring/Summer. But there is flexibility to expand it to all 4 seasons, which is what I’m more comfortable with.
I love this approach since it’s practical, and allows you to analyze your wardrobe in detail as you purge what you don’t wear and what no longer serves your lifestyle. It also contributes well to discouraging overconsumption since you’re limited to just 5 pieces per season (so there’s no room for impulsiveness!), while encouraging variety, as well as the addition of wardrobe items you’ll continue to rewear year over year. This, ultimately, will lead to an uncomplicated, timeless wardrobe that reflects your true style.
My focus now more than ever, is to continue to slowly curate wardrobe essentials that suit my lifestyle. I still have a long way to go, but I’ll always come back to this approach again and again when I feel the need to add more pieces that go beyond being just a core basic.
So What is Parisian Style?
I’m by no means an expert, but to summarize, my key takeaways of Parisian style are:
- Quality over quantity
- Timeless pieces (a trend-less closet)
- Style over fashion
- 1 statement piece (per outfit)
- Minimal colour palette (per outfit)
So that brings me to this outfit. This may or may not be something a Parisian would wear, and that’s okay! Regardless, I’ve incorporated a lot of the points above into this outfit. It’s made up of quality basics + 1 statement piece (more on this below). It contains just two colour palettes. And it definitely reflects my evolving personal style. Let’s dive into the details!
Outfit details:
- Wilfred Front to Back Cardigan from Aritzia (similar to the timeless Sezane Gaspard Jumper)
- Denim Forum Arlo Straight jeans from Aritzia
- Babaton Contour V-Neck Bodysuit from Aritzia
- Lace choker from Made by Mary
- Baby Box Chain Bracelet from Mejuri
- Croissant Dôme Hoops from Mejuri
- Dundee Nude Leather boots from L’intervalle
- Prada Tessuto nylon crossbody bag (purchased from a Prada outlet in Florence, Italy back in 2015!)
The Statement Piece
As one of my 2020 wardrobe purchases, this cardigan was a unique addition. Made of yarn from Italy, it’s luckily not very itchy and sits well against my body. I wore a nude contour bodysuit underneath as it’s quite see-through. I don’t consider it one of my core basics since it’s not for everyday wear. Instead, it’s a statement piece to which I styled my outfit accordingly. It’s also versatile enough to be styled several different ways, like backwards and unbuttoned, so it’s a timeless win in my books. It also has the loveliest romantic feel to it – perfect for Valentine’s Day.
For the rest of the outfit, I stuck to a colour palette of creams and blues, getting me well prepared for Spring. Straight-leg jeans are a huge part of a French woman’s wardrobe, and it’s most certainly a huge part of mine. So putting on a pair was truly a no-brainer. The inseam of these hit right at the perfect spot on my 5’2″ frame.
Finally, I topped off the look with some dainty gold jewelry for subtle sparkle, a pair of nude ankle boots, and my small Prada crossbody bag which I’ve had for 5+ years. It was a little splurge purchase from my trip to Italy when, you know, travelling was a thing! It may be flashy, but it’s still a piece I love – plus my handbag collection is very limited. So this will do for now!
Throw on a coat, and I’d proudly wear this around Paris! Now tell me, what’s your ideal Parisian inspired outfit?
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