My LA vs Paris Style
Hi friends,
Style in itself is an abstract concept. To some, it may be as simple as you either have it or you don’t. To me, and to many other fashion girlies like myself, style is ever changing, evolving through the various eras in our lives.
Overall, I’d say my style didn’t change that drastically when I moved to Paris. I came here with two suitcases and whatever else I could shove into my mom’s check-in bag. I packed what I thought were my most versatile and wearable pieces knowing that I’d be walking most places. For the most part, I feel like my style was already leaning into the effortless minimalism of Parisian fashion (currently my Holy Grail); the only thing I lacked was my ability to dress for seasons.
If I were to sum things up, I feel like my LA style is essentially more casual. It just doesn’t make much sense to be walking around in a blazer when it’s 75 degrees out and you’re surrounded by people who could easily be going to the beach at any point during the day. Due to the seasonality of life in Paris, there is an opportunity and challenge when it comes to dressing. There is a larger range of looks you can try when living with very hot summers and freezing winters. As a result, my sense of style has had to stretch to accomodate a new way of dressing, mainly out of survival and out of the desire to look chic all year around.
So without further ado, here are my go-to LA and Paris looks:
LA Staple Look 1: A Very Good White Shirt
I was quite literally living in this shirt that a friend gave to me before she moved. It’s by NA-KD and normally I’m not a consumer of fast-fashion but in this case, the quality of the fabric is surprisingly luxe.
LA Staple Look 2: Tank Tops
With warm weather in LA, tanks tops are my daily go-to when I’m building an outfit. Currently, I love my scoop neck tank top by Lemaire and my old white tank top by Reformation. When it comes to styling, a belt adds waist and a nice elevated touch.
LA Staple Look 3: Midi Skirts
In general, I gravitate towards midi skirts rather than mini skirts. They just feel more practical for running errands and meeting friends. The skirt on the left is an old vintage skirt and the white eyelet skirt was originally a dress that I upcycled.
LA Staple Look 4: Playful Accessories
Since my looks are so minimal, adding a few fun accessories helps add a little personality. I made these necklaces with old beads my mom had at home and the Moon Bag is by Staud. It was an old Black Friday purchase gift to myself.
Paris Staple Look 1: Layering
Seasonal dressing means layering is key. It’s taken a while for me to figure out how to layer in a way that doesn’t make me feel like a marshmallow and there are still times when layering is more for survival than anything else. Recently, I’ve been loving looks by Andrea Ricci. Her approach to layering is what inspired this look.
Paris Staple Look 2: Dresses
A corset dress feels so Parisian to me. Maybe it’s the princess world of it all, but occasionally, I do love a little corset moment. The white look was inspired by one Sofia Richie Grainge’s engagement looks.
Paris Staple Look 3: Cardigans and Short Coats
One of my dreams is to own a Chanel suit. Maybe it’s cliche, but I will rue the day that I get to bask in a vintage (or new God willing) Chanel tweed. For now, I’ll have to settle for this dupe.
The outfit on the left is one of my favorite transitional looks. The coat was another great hand-me-down from another friend.
Paris Staple Look 4: Long Coats
It’s taken me a few seasons, but I finally feel like I have a great selection of coats in my wardrobe. For me, I’m very content with the staples that I have: a vintage men’s Burberry trench coat, a Lemaire trench coat, a vintage fur collar coat (my mom’s), and my grandmother’s button-up coat. Each offers a different level of warmth which is essential for surviving a Parisian winter.
Which style of mine do you prefer? LA or Parisian.
As always, thank you for much for reading. I hope this blog post also helps inspire you to curate your wardrobe into something that brings you joy and ultimately makes you feel good. At the end of the day, personal style is a way for me to feel confident in the way I present myself to others. It speaks to my values and my aspirations which are ever changing, ever evolving.
Much love from Paris,
Kiana