The Summer I Turned French - 7 Tips to Nail Parisian Fashion
Plus, the Surprise Hand-me-down My Kid LOVES!
Hiiiiii!
How have you been?
I’m deep in my mid-summer feelings. Part of me is secretly counting days, grumbling that summer is already over. And the other part is tamping down that thought haaarrd.
Thankfully, Team Half Full is winning! August is gonna crush. And September is the better weather chaser to summer. I am not letting myself count days anymore.
Operation: Enjoy is in full effect.
I got a request a while ago to write about how I choose what to wear. I’ve had a breakthrough, and I thought it would be fun to share.
It’ll take me some time to be fluent in French again, but fashion-wise, I feel I’m there.
Did I intentionally time my wardrobe redux with the Paris Olympics? Wouldn’t put it past me!
Read this bad boy in your browser for the best experience. Here we GO!
The summer I turned French – 7 tips to nail Parisian fashion
The surprise hand-me-down my kid loves
My YES-ESSENTIALS
In high school, I was into menswear even though NO ONE else was. Ties, vests, Docs. Still love. As I aged, my fashion morphed into funky mélanges of grunge plus punk, plus African, with preppy layered in, all falling under the wide and convenient catchment of “business casual.”
My sis introduced me to the Lucky fashion guide which I poured over, trying to figure out if I was Bohemian or American. No label for Black Girl GQ Retro Punk Eclectic? Big surprise.
Years later, I discovered Ines de la Fressange and her effortless style. I poured over her book.
Fast forward a decade.
I travelled back to France last year and holy cannoli it clicked. French fashion with a big dash of Afro-Caribbean is my style. Parisian to be exact.
Parisian fashion is -
Flattering
Easy
Enduring
Versatile
Comfortable
Classic
Refined
Interesting
Affordable
Ageless
It was time for my wardrobe to get boo’d up. And to mature. I’m not getting any younger despite my valiant efforts with face serum. Over the last eight months, I’ve streamlined, honed, and toned my wardrobe. I put a ring on joie de vivre.
There are plenty of links and guides online that explain the Parisian way of dressing (check out this book that my friend, Jel, recommended), but here’s my take, my fashion yescessaries!
Preface - clothes are just clothes, so let’s keep wearing what we like. Threadbare, too tight, kitty cat scratches on your jeans? You do you.
Being able to choose what to wear is the ultimate privilege, right up there with choosing where to live and what to eat. Clothes don’t really matter, but they are a signifier. They communicate how we want to be perceived. That can be an overwhelming question to answer every morning!
Heeding the call and sharing how I choose. Hope you find this style haul interesting!
1. Kick trends to the curb.
It’s tough to tell what’s a trend and what’s a classic sometimes, so I’ll share how I spot them. If there is sleeve missing or shoulders cut out – trend. If there is fringe – trend. If the cut of the skirt is longer in the back than the front (or vice versa ‘cause you know that is coming) – trend. I want to wear a piece for the next four or five years.
If there is a detail that's not usually there, it's because it won't be next season.
2. Natural fibers or bust.
I have an unbending fashion rule – I buy cotton, linen, silk or wool. No polyester, no acrylic. I’m on the fence with Lyocell. I know it’s sustainable, but I don’t love the feel (yet).
The first thing I do before I consider buying or keeping a piece I’m being gifted is read the label.
“Is it natural?” forces me into mindful purchasing/obtaining.
3. ❤️Structure and it will ❤️ you back.
In North America, we luv us some jersey stretch. But in French fashion, they swap stretch for loose fitting. Every beautiful body size can fit into structured pieces and that doesn’t mean rigid. Structure is shape that holds.
This is also where a well-tailored coat is a great investment. I can wear a garbage bag, pop a structured trench on and I could rock that look.
Okay, maybe I won’t wear a garbage bag as it’s not a natural fiber, but you get my point.
4. Double down on neutrals. Add pops of colour.
Whites, beiges. Navy. Tan. Yes, to these. They work trans-seasonally as well. I still love colour, but I choose one key piece so it’s the focal point.
5. Swap luxury for local.
This is where I veer from the other French fashion guides. Folks say that French fashion means you need a Hermès bag or something fancy. Hard pass on the cha-ching. I need to put my kids through school and eat Gruyère cheese.
I prefer to support local vendors/artisans. My commuter market bag is local.
I love having a story and meaning behind something I’m wearing.
6. Mix casual with elegant/formal.
Tailored blazer + loose jeans + runners. Heck ya. Fancy earrings + tee shirt. Jean jacket + pencil skirt. To me, an outfit is math (lines + angles + silhouette). I try to make it an interesting and fun equation.
Clothes are meant to be played with!
7. Pick shoes that you can walk in for days.
Flats for-evah is my yoga mantra. I love runners, but I super dig loafers, lace-up oxfords or brogues as they are an enduring style.
I’m drawn to white sandals, white runners, white loafers in the summer. A hit of white lends instant elegance to any ‘fit.
It was a process, but here’s how I toned my closet -
No overalls. Not gone! In storage.
No skinny jeans. Swapped for straight leg, Dad jeans, loose and long. I love this brand.
Reduced graphic tees/big logos. I’m keeping my Salt ‘N’ Pepa tee and a few others. No need to be drastic.
No athletic wear until I cross the turnstile of my gym. I’m keeping my cute Adidas wide legs and two skirts. Bien sûr…
No Flashdance-inspired off-the-shoulder. I was still showing some skin. Sigh. Bye.
Reduced patterned pants. Checks, stripes are homies. They stay.
** Exceptions
Anything cotton from Giant Tiger. Have you been in there? Like BiWay from my childhood. Shopping less, but GT is my hall pass.
Jean shorts, tanks. It’s summer. Bonjour.
Solid button shirts in colours like purple, red or deep brown.
Patterned tops. Why not? Still work.
The benefit? I haven’t bought clothes in six months aside from one long jean jacket and a t-shirt refresh, which was badly needed. Oooeee.
Staying in my “Is it French?” fashion lane has been incredibly freeing. I consume less and post-cull, choosing what to wear is waayy easier.
It's summer! Thought I'd have a little fun and write about fashun. Hope the closet peek was interesting!
The Surprise Hand-me-down My Kid LOVES
My mom kept these items from my childhood to give to my kids if I ever had any -
Tap shoes (yes, clickity clack tap shoes)
Straw purse from Guyana
Leather purse from Guyana
My red, white and navy Standard Bearer dress from Grade Four. In the US only the top students get to hold the flag during assemblies. They made an exception for the Canadian (me!)
My birth bracelet – Andrea Melissa in beads
Guyanese gold ring with my initials
I donated the dress (polyyyyy) and the kids don’t give a hoot about the rest.
The one thing that we somehow also kept is my Barbie bike! It was purchased in Rochester, New York when we lived there. I rode that bike up and down the creek that ran through our backyard with my group of buddies, Tara, Marianelly, Ricardo. Oh my gosh, that bike and I tore it up!
We moved it back with us to Canada thirty plus years ago. Step decided to refurbish it for me over twenty-five years ago and it sat in my parents’ basement, then our basement.
I didn’t know we were going to have a daughter OR that Barbie would have a moment OR that we’d have a space up North where she could ride and have adventures with her group of pals just like I did. Oh life. Stop it. So good.
Sharing as this dovetails with the fashion post. It’s such a challenge to know what to toss and what to keep. We kept the right thing.
I’m curious to know what you kept from your childhood that you’re still using now or have passed on!
My Summer YES-ESSENTIALS
A few more links to what I’m digging right now!
Black People Winning is one of bookmark tabs. Loved this story from the Washington Post.
My daughter heard the term stud muffin on the radio. Explaining it got a giggle. Popularized by this classic SNL skit!
I still love to study. Current topic – the Japanese concept of living a healthy, meaningful life called Ikigai.
Speaking of longevity, trying chia water with coconut water. Two-fer!
My fave sunscreen finally in spray.
Obsessed with cherries and want to make this pie!
Thanks so much for spending some time with me. YOU are my sunshine!
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