I Was Just in Paris—This Is the Capsule Wardrobe of the Cool Girls in the Marais

Cool girls in the cool neighborhood, what’s good?

I recently came back from a fun trip to Paris where I spent several days in the Marais district of Paris. For those who haven’t been, the Marais is a neighborhood bustling with the young, cool crowd. There are a ton of vintage shops, natural wine bars, and, you guessed it, lots of stylish women. As a fashion editor, I naturally kept an eye out for some of the recurrent dressing themes, so I could report back stateside of what the cool girls in Paris are wearing right now. While there definitely are a smattering of trendy pieces (think: rosette neck ties and sports sunglasses) in rotation, I was focused on identifying the core wardrobe workhouses that I imagine will remain in style for seasons to come. My resulting list can be considered the Parisian capsule wardrobe checklist. Scroll on to get the look, which I think would look chouette (cool) no matter which country you’re in.

The French luxury heritage brand Celine is responsible for repopularizing the oversized oval sunglasses. The look is inherently glamorous, and I think investing in a pair is a smart move.

See how they make this simple outfit special? We guarantee the cost per wear will be good.

We think Miu Miu, who shows their ready to wear collections in Paris, may have something to do with the resurgence of the white crewneck tee. Sure, it’s the kind of basic that’s always in style, but since the brand featured the staple heavily in their fall show, it’s felt especially relevant. 

Go for just a tee and breezy button-down in warm weather, and toss on a trench for any unseasonably chilly days.

The resurgence of the fancy ballet flat is making huge waves in Paris right now. If you happen to be a size 7, you can snag the exact Khaite shoes above.

The Alaia flats pictured were recently declared by luxury fashion sourcer Gab Waller as the most requested flats of summer. Accordingly they’re hard to find online, but the Loeffler Randall pick below gives a similar effect.

This top is a little bit pretty, a little bit school girl. With ruffles or lace, you can’t go wrong. The J.Crew top below looks even cuter in motion. Check out this try-on Tiktok of the blouse for proof.

A short sleeve version is *checks notes* perfect for summer.

Ladies in the Marais always have a cool-girl spin to their outfits, even if they’re wearing mostly classic people. The distressed leather jacket, recently popularized by Prada, is the item of choice to add a bit of edge.

Lots of fashion girls own the Source Unknown jacket pictured above. If you’re looking for something more affordable, we also love the Topshop take on the trend below.

Naturally, the Parisians are into an elevated, tailored look, so it’s no surprise the vest-as-top look has taken off there.

If you have a slightly eclectic style, opt for an embroidered version.

Nobody is safe from the rise of the Sambas, and that includes the Parisians. This outfit is a perfect example of the “wrong shoe theory” that’s circulating on Tiktok right now. 

Apologies in advance, but this color is hard to find except in larger sizes. If these are the Sambas of your dreams, make sure to set alerts for new drops.

Next up, check out the 5 things Brits would never wear.