Florence or State College? Destination No. 4

I was so excited to finally have the chance to travel outside of Paris and see the different fashions in other amazing cities, and one of my first stops was Florence, Italy. However, from the moment I got off the plane it was clear that the fashions here would not compare at all to that of the Parisiennes.

Florence is a lot smaller than Paris, and I was able to see pretty much the whole city and many different people in the few days that I was there. Though the city was obviously very different, foreign and beautiful, I could not say the same thing about the people and their fashion choices.

There was definitely a large amount of American students studying there, however even those who were not American dressed very similarly. They followed many of the same trends, always looking pretty casual. One of the biggest differences I noticed between Parisiens and Americans is the way that they dress to go out. In Paris, it is very rare to see people in shorts and a crop top – a staple in most American girl’s wardrobe these days. In Florence, there were so many people sporting this somewhat “American” look that I might has well been in my own college town (State College). It was very interesting to see that not all Europeans take the same approach to fashion as the Parisiens do.

Working Out In Amsterdam

Styles across Europe are definitely notable and something that I have noticed at every moment through this Euro-trip. Parisiennes are not caught on the street in their gym clothes however in Amsterdam athletic wear is seen all over.

Check out these two women in Amsterdam. They’re dressed in gym clothes having a conversation in a park. There clothes are slim fitting and definitely following the latest Nike or Asics fashions.

The only places in Paris I have seen this kind of wear is when people are running outside along the Le Seine however I don’t see much of it in the actual gym.

Springtime in Paris

FINALLY the sun has come out in this beautiful city, and the flowers have started to bloom!  Instantly I have noticed a change in the aura of this little town we call Paris.  People genuinely seem happier and more friendly since the brighter weather has come out to play.  I've noticed however that many have not  yet lost their winter coats, it's almost as if the people of Paris don't check their weather.com app on the reg. Sure the weather is very testy here and could change very suddenly, but from experience back home in America, the minute the sun begins to shine, people cannot wait to shed their winter layers.

A change however that I have also noticed, is that we are beginning to see some color!!! Whether it be a bright sneaker, or a vibrant scarf, the Parisians are finally breaking out of their black shells.  This is a similar trend we see in the US, when the weather gets nice, the spring shades begin to pop!  I can honestly say I don't think I've been more excited for some nice weather than I have been here, but it will be hard to have to hold back the shorts and sandals until I see more spring clothes come out.

Travel Destination Number 2: Barcelona

In order to gather more important research for this little project of ours, four of us ventured to Barcelona this past weekend, and all I can say is holy paradise.  The sun, the palm trees, the atmosphere, all combined for an absolutely perfect weekend away.  Everything in this city was simply amazing and truly welcoming.  Barcelona's residents are definitely more relaxed than the typical Parisienne, they wear jeans, tee shirts, jackets, all with a slightly beachy feel.  The size of Barcelona compared to Paris differs greatly also, which in my opinion is a reason for the more comfortable dress.  It isn't a commercial business city with uptight men and women in their suits and dresses and heels clattering down the sidewalk in a rush to get to work, people relax here, they siesta for goodness sake!

Night life wardrobe is also more toned down here.  You won't see divas sporting their nicest furs to get into the clubs in Barcelona.  I even noticed less girls wearing high heels.  In Barcelona, there was such a range of night wear, from converse, jean shorts, and a tank top, to dresses and heels, almost anything goes there!  Sure, we were all surrounded by Americans this whole weekend because it was a festival aimed towards students studying abroad, but it was also fun to see how my friend's clothing choices have altered through their time in Europe as well!

The Gym for La Parisienne

Now what exactly are Parisiennes wearing to the gym? It is definitely not what you are seeing them wear on the streets. A lot of the gym attire resembles pajamas, for example loose baggy t-shirts, sweatpants and unfitted long sleeve cotton shirts. It is so interesting how a current trend in America right now is to appear “trendy” in exercise clothing and as much as the French seem to care about their appearance on the streets it seems like the opposite is taking place in the gym.

But guess what? They still look French!

Here is a photo of an older man exercising. His shorts are definitely more “euro” considering they’re above his kneecap yet more importantly he is wearing a scarf. I don’t think that this would happen in the United States and I think it is awesome. The only accessory an American would be found wearing while exercising would be a headband. In addition to his scarf he is wearing stripped colored socks. Even though the French don’t seem to have “trendy” athletic wear, they still somehow exemplify their Parisienne in them while staying fit.

Keep reading to hear more about the athletic wear in other places in Europe like Barcelona and even some hints from Amsterdam.

A Vogue by any other name

As a fashion lover, it's been hard going months on end without the fashion bible, Vogue. Today I caved in and bought the french version, Vogue Paris. Although I could barely understand what was being said in the magazine I noticed some differences between the magazine and its American counterpart other than just the language.

Travel Destination Number 1: Amsterdam

The five of us all recently traveled to Amsterdam.  Other than it being an absolutely amazing weekend away, it was a learning experience being in a city that differs so much from Paris.  The side of the city we saw was tourist central.  Everyone spoke english, and everyone was there for the same reason...  But it was easy to spot out the locals because they were CONSTANTLY buzzing by on their bikes.  Adorned with thicker outerwear than seen here due to the colder climate, and the all important scarf, not much else differed with these Europeans's style except for their pants and shoes.  Since biking is the main mode of transportation, you do not see as much high end stylish footwear as we do here in Paris.  The importance of biking in these people's lives makes high heels or flowy pants a fashion don't, due to the inconvenience they provoke. It is cool to see how countries so close in proximity can have one trait that completely alters the way fashion translates.

Beret? Cliche!

When you think of wearing a hat in Paris, the first thing that comes to mind is putting on a cute beret right? Well I hate to break it to you but berets are OUT. I know, I know, I was disappointed too. Don't get me wrong I did see the occasional beret, but they tend to be worn by older women or sold in touristy shops. Below are some pictures I took of other hat options on the streets of Paris that are becoming quite popular and not as cliche.