Thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All ideas and opinions are my own.
I’m still editing my street style photos from Paris, and will share within the next few days. While style and trends continue to become more global, I always enjoy trying to suss out the particular spin that les Parisiennes are putting on their style in any given season.
While the weather was unusually mild during the week of my visit, it was still brisk enough that outerwear was a must. Parisians appear to put as much thought into their outerwear as the rest of their wardrobes, and it was interesting to see some of the dominant themes. Shown above:
top row – left | middle | right
bottom row – left | middle | right
Puffer Coats and Parkas
Puffer coats are definitely having a moment in Paris. They are everywhere! After traveling with one, I can understand why. They’re warm and lightweight, and less bulky than ever. Most of the styles I observed were more “city chic” than sporty or “serious mountaineering.” I also observed many winter-weight parkas (again, more polished than the old army surplus styles of the past). Both puffers and parkas tended to be in subdued neutral colors: black, navy, taupe, olive. Hooded styles were common, and hoods often had a fur or faux-fur* lining, occasionally a bright color. Women of all ages seem to be fond of puffer styles especially.
Cloth Coats
While one might expect an unrelenting sea of black and navy coats, that wasn’t the case. Bright colors, patterns and embellishments were frequently seen. Cobalt blue seemed to be popular, though I did also see lime green, red, and burgundy. Coats in neutral colors often had texture and houndstooth, herringbone, plaid patterns or color-blocking (often two shades of the same neutral).
Fur and Faux-Fur*
*While the wearing of real fur seems to be quite usual in Paris, I will only wear and promote faux. All items linked here are faux-fur.
While I spotted brightly colored fur items in shop windows, most of the fur and faux-fur I saw worn was more natural looking (though Josephine and I did spot a set of twins in matching olive parkas with hot pink fur-lined hoods). We spotted a few women wearing fur/faux-fur vests (both long and hip length) over top of a cloth or leather jacket or coat. As mentioned above, most jackets with hoods seemed to have a fur/faux-fur lining. I did not notice any shearling coats.
Underneath the Outerwear…
The only time I was able to see what women were wearing underneath their coats was in cafes and occasionally in stores. Most women I spotted were wearing pants, and skinny and slim styles still dominate. Black, navy and dark wash denim are the prevailing choices, though I did see grey, tan, and the occasional color (burgundy, amber). Skirts were worn with tights, sometimes matching the skirt, and sometimes in another color. I did not see anyone wearing patterned tights. In a few instances I noted that women were wearing fitted tweed jackets underneath their overcoats, though most I saw were wearing sweaters, none extremely oversized except for a stylish restaurant manager in a gray cashmere wool cape. (She was SO chic and I coveted that cape!)
All items shown here are from Nordstrom. They offer a wide selection of brands and sizes, including Plus and Petites. Shipping and returns are free, which makes it easy to try new brands or styles. If you have any questions about an item, their customer service people are helpful and knowledgeable.
I’ll have some Paris street style shots, as well as a report on accessories, bags and shoes in upcoming posts.
