In this second part of my Paris style report, (see Part 1 HERE) I’m focusing on accessories. Temperatures during my stay were warmer than normal, so while people were out enjoying the weather on the streets and in cafes, they were not as bundled up as one would expect for December. Still, I observed some trends and common themes…
Thanks to Nordstrom for their sponsorship of this post. All ideas, words and opinions are my own.
Shown above: hat | scarf | gloves | bag | boots
Scarves
While many days during my visit were warm enough to skip the hats and gloves, women in Paris almost always wore scarves. As with clothing, I can often discern some scarf trends. This visit, I noticed most often:
- chunky knits
- plaids (though usually subtle and low-contrast, and classic Burberry check styles often spotted)
- some graphic prints (often monochrome)
- bright color accents (almost always a solid color)
Bags
Even when Parisiennes are carrying high quality or designer bags, styles are discreet and understated. You rarely see flashy styles, obvious logos or lots of extraneous hardware. This trip, I noticed mostly tote styles and simple shoulder bags. Softer bags outnumbered highly structured bags by about 3 to 1. Occasionally I’d see someone with a very small crossbody bag, but it was always supplemented with a tote or shopper. I noticed that when women were wearing head-to-toe black, navy or charcoal, they’d often have a lighter neutral or colored bag (red, blue or burgundy) to lift the outfit.
Hats and Gloves
As mentioned above, it was warm enough during my stay that on most days hats and gloves weren’t needed. It was mostly in the evenings that I noticed them, and here too I picked up some trends. Chunky knit caps with fur or faux-fur pompoms were most popular, followed by slouchy knit beanies. I did not notice many women at all in wool fedora-type hats. When I did see women wearing gloves, they almost always were leather, usually a neutral color but sometimes I’d spot a cobalt blue pair.
Nordstrom has an amazing selection of accessories and bags, and I had no trouble finding the same kinds of pieces I saw in Paris. They offer free shipping (as of today, they are still able to deliver by Christmas Eve) and free returns. They carry a wide range of products and sizes, including Petites and Plus.
Check back tomorrow for some Paris street style photos!
