What to Wear in Paris

Feeling intimidated by French fashion? If you're wondering what to pack for Paris as a tourist, check out my easy tips on the staples you do not want to forget. 

Aux Champs-Elysees

What to wear in Paris: Where to begin?

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​**Post updated, August, 2019

Of all the things that intimidated me about traveling to France, embarrassingly, having stylish clothes was right at the top of the list.

And yes, #2 on the list was finally utilizing my French language skills, which were certainly a bit rusty since college. To see how the French language piece went, and how you can impress the Parisians, even if you don't speak French, check out my post 5 Ways to Charm the French.

Of course, as it turns out, the French were even more wonderfully well-dressed than I had been expecting - and thankfully I had all the right things in the suitcase, if largely, admittedly, by accident! (And no, I didn't wear that beret the whole trip ;))

What to Wear in Paris: Rules to dress by

Let's walk through a couple over-arching thoughts as you're starting to pack, before we get to the actual items you'll want to bring to Paris.

1. Focus on fit.

First, and most importantly, I think, though of course there's plenty of expensive fashion to be had in Paris, the French are not necessarily only concerned with splashing out huge amounts on clothes and the latest fads. Though let's be honest - the French very often develop the fashion fads long before anyone else has even heard of them!

When it comes to selecting fashion items, the French tend to focus on fit. Just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it can't fit properly (and they get things tailored if they need it). Therefore, focus on packing likely your higher-end items and pieces that actually fit well, not on running out and buying random cheap, trendy pieces that are very "right now."

Takeaway: If you're selecting items you already own, bring your best-fitting staple pieces.

2. Finish the outfit.

French outfits should always be "finished." This means that before even dreaming of leaving the house, the French will add a scarf, or a belt, or a hat, or a necklace to top-off any outfit. I did find that they often achieved this by adding a light jacket or "topper."

​A shirt and a pair of pants is just not going to cut it - that outfit is not "done." For example, almost every businessman you see will be wearing a scarf - to complete the outfit - on top of his suit.

Takeaway: don't forget to include scarves, necklaces, jackets, and belts in your suitcase!

First things first: Don't forget the packing cubes!

No packing article would be complete without recommending my favorite packing cubes, to get your trip off on the right foot!! These nifty cubes keep everything you pack organized before, during, and after the trip, and - the best part- they're super affordable!

​I love being able to keep small items neat and tidy *in* the hotel room, and they're also a great way to pack up souvenirs for your trip home. If you're concerned about hotel room germs, you could even leave all of your items in the cubes and just transfer them into the drawers in your hotel.

For even more travel essentials, check-out the constantly updated list of all the items that I can't travel without!

What to wear in Paris: Selecting a light jacket

Overall, the weather in Paris is fairly mild. If you'll be in France in the winter, you'll want to bring a winter coat, but our most recent trip was in mid-October, and I never even unpacked the heavy, bulky, wool coat that I had hauled all the way across the Atlantic, assuming I'd need it to keep me warm. Of course, I live in the Midwestern US, so your temperature preferences may differ from mine. But, it just wasn't cold.

Even when it's not chilly, at least by my standards, the French often wear light, stylish overcoats, which appear to be more of a fashion statement than anything else. Sometimes blazers, a lot of rain jackets, and often what I've always called "toppers."

​I was not at all prepared for this, but luckily, I had brought a light jacket that I often wear to work, which turned out to be perfect, from Eileen Fisher, which I'm wearing in the picture in the top of this section in Place des Voges. J McLaughlin also makes some super cute "toppers." And, while you're here, why not check out the full post on visiting Le Marais, my favorite spot in Paris?

Spending time in Le Marais, Paris

The French tendency to wear (potentially unnecessary?) jackets stems from the desire to "finish" the outfit, as I discussed earlier. Without the jacket, I'm just wearing a shirt and a scarf, which doesn't look as polished and complete. I'm all in on this front.

And, of course, to me, wearing a light jacket is doubly effective - using the pockets effectively can also eliminate the need to carry a heavy purse, which is a huge benefit for me on a big tour day. I am all about that no purse action, when the Husband is around to help carry the valuables! Then I can keep my phone in my pocket so I can continually take it out to quickly snap pictures!

What to wear in Paris: Don't forget your scarf!

Gorgeous silk scarves at Hermes, Paris

The French love, love, love their scarves! Without one, I always felt simply naked. Especially in Fall - a scarf is a *must.*

Fun fact of the day: the French actually invented neckties for men. (Sorry, men, I know how much you love wearing ties!) They didn't invent scarves for women, but the reinvented them to point that they might as well have created them in the first place, as they so often do with anything fashion-related.

​I brought quite a few scarves along with me, and, of course, I picked up several others on the trip! Personally, I like the really big, silk scarves, but I also saw quite a few bulkier, chunkier scarves, especially when it's a bit chillier, so keep this in mind for the winter months!

​Whether or not you're looking to actually invest in one, definitely stop by Hermes and check out their gorgeous scarves - there's nothing quite like the selection they have in their Paris stores. 

And, of course, you must know how to tie any scarf properly! Hermes has some lovely videos, if you want to study up on how to twirl your scarf in advance! I learned in the store and the first one they have on that page is the only one I can ever remember, on the fly! ​For tips on shopping at my favorite Hermes store, on Paris's "Rive Gauche," check out the full post on Paris's Left Bank!

What to wear in Paris: Striped shirts in every color

Yes, the French actually wear striped blue (or red, or black) and white shirts, which are lovely, but fall into sort of the idea I had in my mind of what they might wear, based on TV shows. I can't pretend this didn't surprise me, at least a bit! But now I'm a full convert and I love them!

Saint James's classic tops are definitely the staple, as far as striped shirts are concerned. I actually hadn't heard of Saint James until our trip to French-Canadian Quebec City, where I visited their store and realized they'd even reached to North America! And, of course, the ever-trusty Amazon has an option for $16! The striped shirts look lovely under that aforementioned light jacket, and they're good in most forms of French weather. Add that scarf and voila!

What to wear in Paris: finding the right pants

When we visited Paris in the fall, I saw mostly slightly cropped ankle pants, such as these. I would definitely not recommend rocking work-out gear/PJ's in public...unless they're incredibly stylish (that's a joke. Don't do it). You might even be asked to leave a restaurant if you wear pajamas in public.

At the top at this post, you'll see me rocking my red "crepe" pants, while shopping on the Champs-Elysees - check out the full post for more details if you'll be visiting the most fashionable street in the world!

Personally, I would avoid blue jeans, unless they are chic, fit extremely well, and are dressed-up with the rest of your outfit. But, if you are younger and cooler than me, a lot of the younger set were rocking the really light-washed 80's looking wash, a bit short, with giant tennis shoes. If you do wear jeans, be mindful that there are at least some restaurants with dress codes forbidding jeans - not many, but if you're going somewhere fancy, it's worth checking.

What to wear in Paris: stylish loafers and booties

Yes, loafers are in this year, but the French have a longer and storied love of loafers that won't be ending any time soon. For me, loafers are great shoes for a big-city vacation, if you invest in the right pair.

​Personally, I love anything like these from Sam Edelman, and I always stock up before long trip. And the best part - it's so affordable - Nordstrom Rack regularly has good deals on his shoes, if you keep an eye on it! Though it's definitely a breach of a rule I've created on this site, I actually brought a new pair of Sam Edelman loafers to Paris and then proceeded to walk 10 miles a day. And guess what? Not a single blister (seriously). For a less-structured option, Birdies are super chic.

If you are looking for "tennis shoes" I do think you can style some of those tiny Keds to still look chic (or, of course, the giant teenager tennis shoes, but I'm not qualified to opine on those!).

And, finally, regardless of the season, you can't go wrong with booties! I like the Blondo boots below because they're waterproof. What's not to love!

What to wear in Paris: Chic dresses

Whether it's going out for dinner, or strolling Paris during the day, when I'm feeling fancy, I do love to wear a cute dress, particularly a structured one. Add tights/leggings, a scarf, and those booties we just discussed, and you've got the perfect chic French girl vibe!

My most recent find is the Clara Shirt Dress from Wool&. It's lightweight, yet warm, and wool that doesn't itch or get that stale wool smell (who knew that existed?) and, it's got a great, structured look, with pockets and a tie at the waist. Perfect for Paris!

What to Wear in Paris: Travel Jewelry

Often, I leave my nicer jewelry at home on big trips, for fear of losing it. If you want to leave your wedding/engagement ring at home, but still want a bit of shine for your Parisian shopping adventures, check out Noémie which has stunning diamond eternity bands, perfect for travel!

Bon voyage!

Overall, just remember - put the fashion emphasis on classics and fit (the French aren't necessarily flashy dressers), and bring more coats and scarves than you might otherwise wear, based on the temperature! If you get hot, you can always take off the coat...but not the scarf - you should probably leave that on! 

​Bon voyage! xx And don't forget to subscribe to the blog and connect on social media via the links below!

You may also like...

• 5 ways to charm the French 
• Paris' Left Bank, including the Eiffel Tower and Rodin Museum
• France by Train, day trips from Paris
• Packing for a 10-day trip to Europe

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