How to Build a Parisian Wardrobe

Now that you understand the basic principles of how to dress like a Parisian, it’s time to take a look at your closet. You’ll notice that I didn’t say, “start shopping.” That was intentional. Many of the true essentials of a Parisian wardrobe are already hanging in your closet, you just need to identify them. A truly Parisian wardrobe contains nothing groundbreaking – stripes and florals for spring, black ankle boots and classic coats for winter. The key to building a Parisian wardrobe is finding the best version of those classic pieces for you, then adding in statement pieces that reflect your own style.

With all that said, just in case you want to do some shopping, I put together a Parisian wardrobe shopping list. This list will help you to figure out what essential Parisian pieces are already hanging in your closet, as well as which ones you still need if you want to build a more Parisian wardrobe.

There a couple of items that are notably absent from this list that many people associate with Parisian fashion – ballet flats, black turtlenecks and berets. While they all make appearances in Parisian fashion, Parisian women are the first to deftly sidestep Parisian cliches. Flat shoes are a must in the city, but they don’t have to be ballet flats. Berets are great for keeping the rain away, but umbrellas are better. As for turtlenecks… those are a love or hate item no matter where you live.

The true key to dressing like a Parisian is embracing basics and making them look fabulous over and over again. And styling your outfits against a Parisian backdrop doesn’t hurt, either. Bon shopping!

Parisian Wardrobe Essentials

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