Growing up in Seattle, I think some elements leftover from the grunge-saturated ’90s culture found their way into my wardrobe and haven’t ever left. I have an innate appreciation for the perfect black anything and couldn’t get enough of the distressed denim trend when it surfaced several years back. Now that I’m living in Paris, my style has evolved and incorporated elements of the classic French girl look, but I’ve also stayed close to my roots.
The Parisian woman is definitely fashion-conscious, but her inner confidence makes any style a killer look. The biggest lesson I’ve learned while living here is that your style does not have to be pre-conceived or perfect and it’s actually the unfinished, slight messiness of your look that gives it a special allure. A Parisians’ hair will always be undone, never fussed and a boyfriend’s sweater is the perfect way to top off any look. Another important aspect of Parisian fashion is having amazing basics. The perfect white T-shirt or a pair of jeans that fit like a glove are totally worth the investment and will always have a prominent place in my wardrobe! Finally, following the famous advice of Coco Chanel, I always look in the mirror before leaving the house and remove one accessory or piece of jewellery to prevent my look from being “too much.”
This look is a casual, everyday look that works for everything from class lectures to shopping to going out at night. This look incorporates both my American and French style and mixes a lot of basic pieces into a more sophisticated personal style. For this one, I took a simple black wrap dress and put it over some sheer tights from H&M, which are seriously the most durable tights and definitely the cheapest. To keep warm, I added a cozy cashmere sweater borrowed from my boyfriend and finished the look with some bordeaux tinted python booties. Finishing off the look with a couple bracelets and a beautiful watch keeps it appropriate for a classroom or business casual setting.
