I’m no stranger to wardrobe mistakes. As an avid trend follower who’s tried just about everything, there have been times here or there that have left me with regret. This mainly dates back to my time before I was a fashion editor of course. In middle school, I didn’t shy away from hot pink and purple highlights and ripped-up tees—the 2000s had their hold on me. Today we’re going to discuss a few less obvious fashion faux pas’s and as I thought about who I should be asking the question, “so should we really not be wearing?” I knew the person I asked just had to be a Parisian.
Paris is the home of the fashion industry’s most powerful designers who are surrounded by equally expert citizens. I think everyone agrees that cool, easy, and effortless is the vibe we’re going after and this specific group has certainly nailed that. They know one thing is true—center your wardrobe around timeless staples and everything else will simply fall into place. I make sure that my Instagram feed is filled with chic Parisians but lately I’ve been especially loving everything that Franziska Nazarenus has been wearing. So I dialed her up to share with us the 6 things that Parisians would never be caught wearing and some chic replacements that we should all be investing in. Happy shopping!
“Sweat pants are a must-have at home. But I almost never see Parisians wearing them with their daily looks. However, Parisians wear their beloved pair of denim always and everywhere. For a good reason: It can be styled super basic and casual or rather chic and elegant. For myself, jeans lay the groundwork for a lot of my outfits.” —Franziska Nazarenus
There’s a reason that these are known by many as the greatest jeans of all time.
These are the perfect wash.
$19 for the perfect pair of jeans.
My co-worker put me onto the fact that these jeans are the next microtrend.
“When in Paris (or France in general) wearing a beret is NOT compulsory. The beret is indeed from France, but not too many Parisians wear it on a daily basis. Instead euphoric (and very cute) tourists, who take their souvenir photos with a selfie stick in front of the Eiffel Tower, wear them way more often. We stick to the classics. The fashion philosophy ‘Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance’ by Coco Chanel still meets today’s zeitgeist. That’s why I love a simple and ageless Little Black Dress.”
This is the perfect LBD.
The little details make this one stand out.
French girls do love a midi dress.
We love a velvet moment.
“A typical french outfit is comfortable & effortless chic. An athletic jacket is for sure comfy, but not very elegant. So Parisians might wear them when going to their fitness class but won’t combine them with their daily outfits. Focus on the high-quality basics. That’s probably THE secret of a timeless Parisian wardrobe. One must-have of my closet, that I keep and wear from season to season, is the beige trench coat. You could say: A Parisian without a trench coat is like a boulangerie (bakery) without a baguette.”
This might just be the greatest trench coat I’ve seen at this price range.
I’m really into this color right now.
How luxe is this?!
I can’t believe it’s under $200.
“I’ve never seen one of my Parisian friends wearing a bomber. They (and I) rather stick to timeless jackets and coats like a trench coat, a leather jacket, or a wool coat. The iconic blazer has stood the test of time. I love this sophisticated & timeless essential as you can combine it with everything. Night-out look or the OOTD? It works for both!”
You’ll never regret buying another blazer.
Cutouts done right.
Can’t go wrong with this forever classic.
Color pop.
“As Parisians tend to dress rather elegantly, leggings might be too sporty for them. In my opinion, they also optically shorten one’s leg and aren’t too flattering not everyone (myself included). After all, the most sustainable fashion advice I’ve learned from French girls is to stick to what you own and wear it for decades. One of my all-time classics is a classy black mini skirt. I love it with black tights and cute Mary Janes.”
Because we all know that French girls love a good slip.
I’m still obsessed with tennis skirts.
…and glitter.
A leather mini is so good for day to night.
“The bigger the bag, the more stuff will be put in it, right? Well, Paris is made for walking and believe me: It is not very comfortable to carry a huge bag with you for a whole day. Accessories are everything in Paris. I especially love to upgrade a basic outfit with an elegant shoulder bag (like my vintage Chanel Flap Bag for example). These kinds of bags are super practical!”
