“We’re flying to Paris at the end of June and we only have one suitcase between the two of us.” Once I fully processed that sentence from my husband, I realised that for this trip I was going to have to plan my outfits well in advance. After all, voici Paris — a city where fashion in Paris is not only about looking stylish, but somehow feels like part of the experience. The visual inspiration is everywhere, and it naturally makes you want to be more creative with your clothes too. Suddenly, planning my Paris outfits became almost as exciting as planning what we were going to see and do. (I wrote more about this in my article “Things to do in Paris France on your first trip while learning about joie de vivre”)
I started planning my outfits to wear in Paris well ahead of the trip and would occasionally test my husband with questions like, “What if I need these shoes?” or “I also need to take this dress because I don’t know what mood I’ll be in that day, and maybe I’ll want to wear it.” As you can imagine, male logic works somewhat differently, and phrases containing the word “maybe” seem to introduce a huge element of uncertainty into the equation and, at the very least, cause some concern.
Knowing how much I love putting outfits together, my husband kindly explained that the word “maybe” was simply not going to work for this trip. So, c’est la vie (that’s life – Eng. translation) and all my creative Paris inspired outfits had to fit into half a suitcase. One suitcase between two people. That was it.
Unlike the situation I described in my article “When happiness is packed in one red suitcase”, this time, while preparing for our trip to Paris, I had to squeeze everything I needed for outfit happiness, and all the clothes to wear in Paris, into half of a turquoise suitcase.
What Colours to use in Paris outfits?
Red is a must for Paris, even if it is just a small detail somewhere in your outfit. There is something about red against the streets of Paris that instantly makes an outfit feel a little more French and a little more special. White and black are classics that never really go out of style and are always a great starting point when putting together Paris outfits.
The easiest way to add a little creativity to any outfit is through accessories: a handbag, scarf, earrings or a necklace, and of course, shoes. You don’t need to completely reinvent your wardrobe to create Paris inspired outfits. Sometimes one beautiful accessory or a carefully chosen colour is enough to give a simple look that Parisian feel. When thinking about clothes to wear in Paris, I usually prefer a few versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched rather than taking too many different outfits.
My Choice of Outfits for This Paris Trip
1. Red, White and a Little French Touch
White and red is one of my favourite colour combinations, and I knew I wanted to take it with me to Paris. I started with a simple white vest and high-waisted white shorts from Zara, which made a comfortable base for a hot summer day. Then came the red: a red leather belt, a structured red crossbody bag Parfois and matching red loafers. I also added a colourful silk neck scarf SHEIN with little touches of red, green, blue and yellow. The scarf was probably my favourite detail (and I love love scarves) because it instantly made the outfit feel more interesting without making it complicated. This was my favourite Paris outfits because it was comfortable enough for walking all day but still had that little French feeling I was looking for.
2. A Little Inspiration from Emily in Paris
This outfit was partly inspired by Emily in Paris. I know that some of the outfits in the later seasons of the series can be rather extravagant, but I still think there are plenty of ideas you can borrow and adapt to your own style. This time, I took the inspiration rather than trying to copy the look. I wore a white high-neck top with a delicate face illustration SHEIN and a slightly shimmering silver sequined midi skirt H&M. I added a pastel blue belt and a light blue scarf tied around my wrist, which gave the outfit a softer, more playful feel. The shoes were one of my favourite parts of this look, comfortable printed sneakers from a local Spanish brand – Spanish Bailarinas.
3. Champagne Gold and Tulle
For another day in Paris, I wanted something a little more elegant, so I chose a shimmering champagne-gold top MUSE with a draped neckline and paired it with a flowing beige tulle midi skirt. I added a woven tan belt with a large round buckle, a tan handbag with metallic details and layered necklace and several bracelets. The final touch was a high bun, although this was less of a fashion decision and more a matter of survival (ufffff this heatwave!). With the summer heat, having my hair down simply wasn’t an option! Comfortable beige sneakers Tommy Bahama completed the outfit, proving once again that outfits to wear in Paris don’t necessarily have to involve uncomfortable shoes.
4. A Polka-Dot Dress
Polka dots have been around for decades and somehow never seem to disappear. They keep coming back in new collections, especially for spring and summer, and I have always liked their slightly playful, retro feeling. For Paris, I chose a white shirt dress covered in green polka dots by EMBLEMS (Spanish clothing brand), with short sleeves, a button-down front and an olive-green fabric belt. I paired it with a dark olive crossbody bag and white sneakers, which made the whole look much more practical for walking around the city. A white shoulder bag added another simple detail and also served as a elegant item to store bottle of water, a hat and fan (I wish somebody invents a compact air-conditioner, it will be super useful during European heatwaves). This outfit felt feminine and a little vintage, but still comfortable enough for a full day of exploring Paris.
All images in this article were taken by Elena Sullivan, ArsVie Photo Studio and are protected by copyright. If you are interested in using any of the them, please contact me for permission. Thank you for understanding!
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