Leggings, a baggy sweater, combat
boots, and a long, puffy North Face-like jacket. Where I come from, this is the
accepted form of apparel for almost any occasion. However, it was almost
instantaneous when I realized this ensemble would not work in the fashion
capital of the world.
It was only too soon that I was
able to answer one of the most frustrating questions I had been asking myself since
day one in Paris: how can all of these people tell that I am an American, before I even
open my mouth to speak? The answer: my long puffy coat told them from a mile away.
Walking
down the streets of Paris is like sitting in the front seat at a fashion show,
no matter where you are. In the photo below is your average “Parisienne” on
the metro. She is wearing a fur jacket, leather pants, her hair is in a bun on
top of her head, and she casually holds a chic bag to pull the look together. Not
to mention, she is wearing all black – the staple color for the women of Paris.
This woman, I believe, would not be caught dead in workout pants or a large
puffy jacket.
No matter
how fashionable one is in the United States, I believe it would be an
adjustment for any one to try to blend in and dress as the people of Paris do.
Our fashion
sense differs greatly from that of “la Parisienne.” We cling to our high boots,
large jackets, and bright colors, and see nothing wrong with them. At home,
these staple articles of clothing are accepted and even admired. However in
Paris, that is surely not the case.
Every week I
notice a new detail of the typical Paris woman’s every day fashion, and every day
I try to think about my Americanized wardrobe, and how I can change it to
incorporate that detail. It is going to be hard, and it is going to take a lot
of time, but my hope is to learn as much as I can from the women of Paris, and incorporate
their style into my own. My first plan of action: find the most chic coat that I can and say au-revoir to my puffy black one.
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