how to dress like a french girl: a study in fuss free style.

similar Loft pants. J.Crew Factory top. similar sweater. similar leather jacket. leopard shoes. Michael Kors cross body bag. Warby Parker glasses. similar scarf.

The day we arrived in Paris, we made our way to the top of the bluff in Montmartre where we met a nice Parisian man who gave us the keys to a tiny but lovely apartment we had rented for the week through AirBNB. (more on this later).  The first thing that struck me, after I got over the charming neighborhood, and the pretty little courtyard our windows opened up to, was the closet or lack thereof.  “Where on earth to people keep their stuff in these tiny Parisian apartments?”  I commented.  To which Craig replied, “I’m thinking they just don’t have as much stuff.”

If there isn’t anywhere to store your clothes, I thought, I bet you get really choosey about what you buy and how it works for you.

The first day we rode the metro, I realized that was absolutely true. Those Parisians women are masters of the capsule wardrobe.  And I spent the entire week, subtly observing them and taking lots of mental notes.  It also gave me a fresh new desire to really hone my basic capsule andI found myself dressing in more black by the end of the trip and opting for simple streamlined outfits, which my husband informed me is his very favorite way I dress.  Go figure.

So today, I thought I would share with you a few of the basics I learned from observing those chic Parisian women (and men!), in a fun little post I like to call: how to dress like a french girl: a study in fuss free style.

Stick to neutrals.  Parisians love their neutrals, and I have to say, it’s incredibly chic.  Think you need a bunch of color to make a statement?  Think again.  Added bonus, neutrals mix and match beautifully with each other.  There seemed to be an emphasis on quality with these neutrals, and the fit was superb.

some of my favorite current neutrals:

Layer.  Lots and lots of lovely lightweight layers. (say that 4 times fast)  Make sure to mix textures for added interest, and go to town with those layers.  The tip is having at least a little bit of each layer showing.

some of my favorite lightweight layering pieces:

Wear practical, but stylish and most importantly flat shoes.  Literally everywhere you go in Paris is cobblestone streets and sidewalks, heels are not an option.  None of the French women wear them, and you’d be surprised how chic you can look in flats.  The key is: classic, functional and stylish.  Think: loafers, boots, flats, and don’t shy away from a great sneaker.  I saw plenty of chic women running around the city wearing sneakers.

favorite practical flats:

Wear practical accessories.  Every single french woman I saw was wearing a scarf.  Literally, every single one.  And it was for good reason, Paris is chilly this time of year.  It also upped their outfit game by about a million, so it was also a great outfit choice as well. The Parisians are practical about their accessories and it totally works.  In additions to scarves, I also saw lots of eyeglasses, and simple practical bags.  These women know how to accessorize functionally.

favorite practical/versatile accessories:

Embrace Black.  What can I say, the Parisians love their black pieces, and it’s hard not to see why.  So simple, so incredibly chic.

favorite black pieces:

Fuss free hair.  One thing is for sure, the French do not fuss about their hair.  And yet, somehow it looks perfectly undone in that effortlessly tossled way.  This is a harder one for me, because I hate to wear my hair frizzy, so wearing it nice and straight and letting it get a little wind-blown was fuss-free enough for me.

my top products for fuss free hair:

Great outerwear.  Never underestimate the power of a beautiful coat or jacket.  Every French girl I saw seemed to have her very own statement making neutral coat.  From leather jackets to tweed overcoats, to herringbone blazers all perfectly fitted; a great piece of outwear is key to successfully executing any great french look.

favorite neutral outerwear pieces:

similar Loft pants. J.Crew Factory top. similar sweater. similar leather jacket. leopard shoes. Michael Kors cross body bag. Warby Parker glasses. similar scarf.